all about the chickpeas!

I am obsessed with Chickpea Flour lately.  I use it in place of whole wheat flour in just about all of my recipes!  Chickpea flour is high in protein and fiber yet lower in carbs. I LOVE the flavor and texture as well.  You can either buy Chickpea flour or grind up your own dried Chickpeas (I have yet to try this).  Last nights dinner was ALL about the chickpea!  I first made up the Chickpea Salad so it could chill a bit.  The Chickpea Flatbread is really easy to make.  Once done, top the Chickpea Flatbread with the Chickpea Salad for a easy dinner or lunch!

Chickpea Flatbread & Chickpea Salad

Chickpea Flatbread & Chickpea Salad

Chickpea Salad
Ingredients:
1 can Chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 Carrots, diced
1 Red Pepper, diced
3 Green Onions, diced
1 Celery Stalk, diced
1/4 cup Sun Dried Tomatoes
2 tablespoons Vegan Mayo
2-4 tablespoons Hummus (depending how saucy you like it)
1/4 cup Fresh Basil
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon Red Chili Pepper Flakes (optional)
1/4 cup Raw Cashews, crushed (optional)

green thumb...or not?

Yes, I know I have been missing in action again.  Dang work and life just seem to get in the way of my free time lol!

One of my new project is a garden we are putting in!!  Of course we couldn't have started this in February when it was cool and not 100+ degree weather.  Last week my husband started clearing the space in our backyard where we had plenty of room for a garden right next to our cute little Lemon tree.

Because of our dogs we wanted to do a raised garden to help detour them from eating all of our crops.  After looking around online we thought a cinder block garden was our best option.  So, off to Home Depot.

The cinder block we used were $1.14 each and we ended up needing about 70 of them.  We were going big with the garden - go big or go home!

Putting the blocks down took the most time.  Our yard is not level at all so we had lots of....put the blocks down....pull the blocks up, going on.  By the end of the day we had the blocks down and pretty happy with our work. 

We did know that we wanted to paint the blocks so they matched the fence better and didn't stick out so much.  My husband had figured how he wanted to run the water to the garden. The soil was a big question as to what to use, best way to buy it.  On Craigslist we could have it delivered, but we thought for us it would be easier to buy in bags.  Just make sure you do your math.  When you buy in bags it come in cubic feet, when you buy in bulk and have delivered it's in cubic yards.

I had one other idea as i looked at this blank canvas of a garden...wouldn't it be cool to paint something on the block besides just brown like the fence.  Hummmm....lucky for me at my office we do vinyl printing, so I had the word "grow" printed out to fit on the front of the blocks.  Then spray painted in the color Nutmeg.

 

I used about four cans of spray paint and had to stop until the following morning because it was so hot to paint.  At this point we also ran our main water line and lined the garden with cardboard to help keep the weeds out and hold in moisture. The soil we bought came in bags of 3 cubic yards, we bought 10 of them and it filled our garden half way.  This weekend we'll be back at Home Depot to pick up the last 10 bags that we needed.  Talk about a workout during all of this!

The next morning after putting down the last coat of paint I peeled off the "grow" sticker and oh yea I am in love!!  Turned out sooooooooooo awesome!! Look forward to finishing the soil, running the water and then figuring what to plant first!  There will also still be some decor work done.  Along the back of the block I am going to put down flat stones, some of the side holes of the cinder blocks I will fill with soil and add flowers.  Also want to add some solar lights and stepping stones into the garden.  All in all, I am loving it!  Thank you to my wonderful husband for all of the hard work! With out him....I'd just be at Sprouts buying my veggies lol.

Watch for updates to see if we can actually grow anything! 

Creating - Hobonichi and Fauxbonichi

Today I want to blog about journaling and having some creative fun with it!  A couple of weeks ago I discovered "adult type coloring books" sounds funny I know, but very relaxing...and fun!  I love coming home from work, turning on a little Netfilix and coloring for a bit to de-stress.  I found that this has also gotten me in the mood to be more creative again. 

I may have mentioned a while back that I like keeping a weight loss journal to track my weight, write down my food, workouts and just notes from the day.  The little boring journal I have been using is about full and it just so happens last week while on Instagram I discovered Hobonichi!  From what I have been learning here is a bit about Hobonichi -

Vegan Sweet Potato Crust - Buffalo Chickpea Pizza

Things have been so crazy-crazy busy lately, yet at the same time pretty relaxing!  I took last Friday off to spend the day with my husband.  The last time I took a Friday off we spent it at the dealership buying a new Chevy truck, so this time I wanted to do something a little more enjoyable!  We started the day with breakfast at our FAVORITE vegan restaurant Pomegranate Café in Awatukee. Everything on the menu is amazing!  After some debate of where to spend our day we decided to drive up to Jerome.  Only a couple hours north Jerome is an old mining town, turned ghost town, turned great shopping, art and wine! I love everything about this place...except for the Grand Hotel that is supposed to be haunted....scariest night of my life was staying there!  LOL!  We spent a great day walking through the town, shopping, stopping at the Spirit Room Bar for a couple of beers, lunch at Grapes on the patio.  Perfect day!

Over the weekend I took my favorite vegan pizza crust and topped it with something a little different.  The result - OMG a new amazing recipe!! The spicy and sweet combo complements each other so well!

Vegan Sweet Potato Crust - Buffalo Chickpea Pizza

 

vegan coconut peanut butter cups

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend!  Spring is in the air here in Arizona and made for the most beautiful weekend.  Woke up Saturday and hopped out of bed ready to get in a great walk before making the darling husband (who was out washing my car...thank you honey!) a healthy Tofu Scramble with a side of Garlic-Jalapeno Potatoes.

Being Easter weekend I really wanted something fun and junky for dessert.  My number one favorite Easter treat pre-vegan days - Peanut butter cups!  OMG, there is nothing like peanut butter and chocolate....my heaven! I had this crazy idea of taking my "cheese" cake crust, some creamy peanut butter, vegan chocolate chips and shredded coconut and coming up with a vegan version of heaven!!  I not only did that, but I knocked it out of the ball park!!  My husband told me it was the BEST thing I have ever made!  LOL! I TOTALLY agree!!



Vegan Coconut Peanut Butter Cups

Vegan Coconut Peanut Butter Cups

Makes 8-12
Ingredients
Crust
1 Cup Macadamia Nuts (or raw nuts of your choice)
1 Cup pitted dates (soaked in warm water for 10 minutes then drained)
1 teaspoon Cinnamon

spicy veggie quinoa enchilada casserole

Ugh, I really dislike April 1st.  You never know who or what to believe!  I did enjoy telling my son his school was on lockdown this morning and there would be no school...heeeheehee...he wasn't that thrilled when he realized I pranked him.

Now this I promise you is NO April Fools day joke!  Last night I made the most amazing and delicious dinner!  Very easy and held together great!



spicy veggie quinoa enchilada casserole

Spicy Veggie Quinoa Enchilada Casserole

Ingredients

 1 cup uncooked Quinoa
1 Onion, finely chopped
2 cloves Garlic, finely chopped
1 Jalapeno, diced
1 Red Pepper, diced
2 Zucchini, diced
6 oz. Spinach
15 oz. can Black Beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 tsp. Chili Powder
1/2 tsp. Cumin
1 tsp. Oregano
1 cup Salsa
1/4 cup Cilantro, finely chopped
 2 15 oz. cans Enchilada Sauce, medium heat
12 Corn Tortillas
4 oz. can sliced Black Olives, rinsed and drained
Avocado (optional)

vegan spicy mediterranean mac & "cheese"

I love this time of the year more than any I think.  That fresh Spring is in the air feeling.  Laying out by the pool. Cool fresh veggie dishes.  I just want to quit my job and live out by the pool right now.  BUT life does not permit me to do so.

My weekends have consisted of coffee at my favorite local coffee shop, LONG walks with my Cavalier Daphne and relaxing poolside.  I am thinking I need to rent Daphne out as she really kicks my butt when it comes to great walks! The dog NEVER slows down!

Still working away on cleaning up my health and doing great!  I am in week seven and down about 17 lbs.  -> insert happy dance!!  I feel so much happier, lighter on my feet and really positive!  I did a little tweaking with my diet last week cutting out my morning smoothie and substituting it with veggies.  I found that I feel so much fuller and the weight loss is moving again.

Last night my husband told me I knocked it out of the ball park with dinner!  Always a great complement to hear!  This was seriously like eating junk food that you might get at Olive Garden I kid you not!

vegan spicy mediterranean mac & "cheese"

Vegan Spicy Mediterranean Mac & "Cheese"

Ingredients:
1 box of Quinoa Macaroni Pasta

Sauce:
1 Cup Raw Cashews (soak for 2 hours if you don't have a Vitamix)
1 Clove Garlic
1/4 Cup Nutritional Yeast
3 tbsp. Tomato Paste
2 tsp. Dijon Mustard
1/4 tsp. Salt
2 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes (less if you don't like it hot)
1 Cup of Water (or more if too thick)
1/2 Cup Fresh Basil