Spicy Roasted Chickpeas

Oooo.. yummy!!!

Love and Lentils

I’ve indulged in one too many treats this summer, and lately have been very good in keeping on the straight and narrow with healthy eating.  But, a girl loves her snacks.  Salty, crunchy snacks to be precise.  I do not believe we should ever deprive ourselves of delicious eating (or snacking).  I just like to come up with healthier alternatives.  Enter these spicy, crunchy roasted chickpeas.  I had to force myself to put them away so I can type this blog post.
My four year old’s reaction to these, “Mama, I really, really like these.  They are very yummy.”  This makes me extra happy, as I like to fuel his little body with nutritious snacks whenever I can, since he is the pickiest eater and rarely sits down for three meals a day.  I made a decent sized batch of these, as they stay crunchy for a few days if…

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Feeling Light; Stepping Bouncier

Since starting this vegan journey, my body has the feeling of being lighter in a way that has nothing to do with how much I weigh. In fact, I’m avoiding the scale for now.

I don’t know if eating meat sits heavier in your system or if it’s because meat takes longer to digest than plant foods that I have this feeling of being lighter. I’m not sure if this feeling is because I no longer carry the burden of eating a slaughtered animal.

Whatever the reason, I am grateful that I stumbled onto this path. My step is bouncier. I have more energy, more focus, more patience and more compassion for others.

Simple vegan fare

Last night I had a simple meal: steamed green beans, zucchini with mushrooms saute with Marsala wine and vegetable broth and a baked yam. It was delicious and very filling.

I made White Bean Mushroom Soup from treehugger.com this weekend, making some adjustments. Basically, I skipped the veggie milk and simply blended some of the white beans to form a base. May be the best mushroom soup ever!

Tonight I made a small green salad, White Bean and Mushroom Soup and a small baked yam. Simple meals can be the best!

Your Grapes May Have Resueratrol In Them ;)

My first Bountiful Basket booty

1 celery stalk, 2 bags of carrots. 4 nectarines, 3 grapefruits, 3 bananas, 1 small box of blueberries, 1 bag Romaine lettuce, 1 large cabbage, 3 cucumbers, 1 box of mushrooms.

First Co-op Order

I placed my first order with Bountiful Baskets yesterday. Pick up is Saturday. Very excited to see what will be in my basket.

Chino Valley Farms also has a new CSA but it’s a little more upfront. I understand they host the CV Thursday Farmer’s Market. I hope to leave work in time before it closes this week.

Bon Appetite!

Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms — minus the cheese — with a 3 rice side!

I was so nervous to make this but it was actually fun and tasted yummy! So excited!

Hmmm … what to try next!

Book: Main Street Vegan

What can I say! Since I can’t afford all the books I want to read, I do rely on our friendly, helpful small town library in Chino Valley.

Now Chino is a small farming community that is part of the “Quad-City” area of Prescott, Arizona.

Oh yes, that’s our area: home of the Granite Mountain Hotshots and the 19 brave young men who recently lost their lives in the Yarnell fire. We’re a close-knit and resilient bunch.

We may be a small community but we do have access to a wide selection of books. Main Street Vegan is borrowed from the Sedona Public Library through my local library. What a wonderful system!

I started reading the book last night and can already see it’s just what I was looking for!

Earthlings // Feature | Earthlings.com

http://earthlings.com/?page_id=32

I watched this last night with a box of Kleenex. Difficult to get through but  I am so grateful I watched it.

It took me three tries and last night I was determined to make myself get through this. Now these images are seared into my brain! My hope is that I will flash on these images if I am ever tempted to consume animal products.

This film has a powerful and important message!

Friday 7/19/13 Lunch

Athenos Roasted Red Pepper Hummus sandwich made with Oroweat Winter Wheat bread. This and a green salad will be a perfect lunch today. TGIF!