Chickpea Artichoke Sandwich Spread and more Smoothie Goodness

I just had some ingredients and threw them together and this yummyness came about!

Here's what I used

1 can of chickpeas drained not rinsed
1 small jar of marinated artichoke hearts, just the artichokes and a small drizzle of the liquid
about a tablespoon of lemon juice
1 tbl spoon of mayo or veganaise
tsp of dried thyme
dash of red pepper flake
dash of paprika
1 tsp of garlic powder
dash of onion powder
salt and pepper to taste

Pulse in a food processor to a chunky consistency.

Add more seasonings if you like


You could put this on anything, I had some flour tortillas so that's what I used.  I topped it with 2 chopped grape tomatoes and some leftover salad that had olives, onions, and spinach, and more.

It would be good with some parm cheese on some crusty bread with crunchy veggies or whatever you like.  It's creamy and delish! And yeah the baby like it too, so double score!
Hope you try, let me know if you do!


So, more smoothie goodies

I kept thinking I needed a juicer, but I really don't.  I can "juice" in my blender.  Sure it's a little pulpy, and you can stain it if you want, but I don't mind the pulp.

So, I've been whipping up some yummy veggie/fruit smoothies for the babe and I.

She loves them, and I don't really give her juice otherwise so she gets pretty excited.  She now comes running when i start up the blender.

here are a few recipes I like, but really the possibilities are endless.  I usually do 2 to 1 for fruit to veggie ratio.

Green Smoothie:

Half a peeled cucumber
small handful of kale
small small handful of cilantro with stems
1 stalk of celery
1/2 peeled lemon
2 kiwi
1 or so frozen banana
a chunk of pineapple
1 a peeled orange
enough water to get the consistency you want

Hey vegetarians need some B12 in your life?  Try this tangy gem..

Lemony yogurt smoothy

half container of vanilla coconut yogurt
half peeled lemon
1 apple
1 frozen banana
enough water or coconut milk for the consistency you like

I do some form of this next one the most..only because I have most of this on hand most of the time.  Oh and i buy a ton of bananas and freeze when ripe cause I use them as the base of almost every smoothie.  And icecream

Orange Twist

1 or 2 peeled carrots
1/2 cucumber
1/2 peeled lemon
1 frozen banana
1 apple
chunk of pineapple
enough water to blend

So, don't think you cant make veggie fruit smoothie just cause you don't have a juicer.  So, look up some recipes and experiment!!

Kale Chips and more...

Okay so this is not the best picture, but if you haven't jumped on the kale chip bandwagon you should!  They're sooo sooo good!  My husband thinks they taste like potato chips, and the baby loves them as well.   You can season them with an endless list of things, kale is really cheap and good for you!

Also, easy to make.  There are tons of recipes online, I do it a really easy way.

Preheat oven to 350
Wash your kale very well and tear leaves from stems
Pat dry and place on cookie sheet
Sprinkle with olive oil
Bake up to 10 mins, usually 9 is my magic number.
You will want to check on them and not let them burn too much
Once they are done, transfer to plate lined with paper towel and season with salt, or garlic powder or whatever you like.
Then eat, and try not to eat them all!  We are on our third bunch of kale this week, it's Thursday.
Did I mention it's cheap.  I buy a bunch ranging from ,99 to 1,29
Money is real tight for us, but we can swing that

So, go kale chip it up!

So...ready..wait for it...
Spicy Kale Chip Wrap

I really recommend, sooo tasty!!!

Make the kale chips as mentioned about I used 2 large leaves for myself.
Once done sprinkle with a little cayenne or a lot and some salt
Heat up any wrap you like and fill with your favorite ingredients
This time it was basic homemade salsa (tomatoes, onions, garlic, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice)
Add some vegan cheese and sour cream or avocado, hummus whatever you like
The kale isn't dense so you can add a lot, and just munch whatever you have left.

Okay, so I'm not a chef, not a photographer.  We don't have a lot of money to spend so I try my best to make healthy food from what I can for my family.

It's easier than you think

Eat More Fruits and Vegetable!

Vegetables are great cause they all taste good together.  Get online and do some research, think about the foods you like now and how you could add veggies to them.

We eat all kinds of things. Mexican style food seems to happen a lot. Brown rice and beans with a ton of raw veggies, salsa, spinach.  Add greens to smoothies, you won't taste it if you start with a little.  Try eating vegetarian for a few days a week.  
Veggie pizza, Make your own veggie burgers, quesadillas, stir fry with or without meat substitutes.

You can do it!! There is so much information online, there is no excuse not to at least feed your children healthy food!  Any budget can do it!
The more healthy you eat and notice how good you feel, the more you want to get into it.  Cooking your own food is really rewarding.  Especially when your husband or whoever gets excited and loves what you're cooking!!

Made these last week
http://www.fannetasticfood.com/recipes/sweet-potato-black-bean-veggie-enchiladas/

And these this week http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/2012/07/cashew-cheese-kale-enchiladas-rojo.html

These are also great blogs to get yummlicious and healthy recipes.  You don't have to follow recipes exactly, I always throw my own spin on it.  There more like a jumping off point

Best Scramble Ever and Smoothie Treats

So, as I've said before, I only use eggs from chickens I know.  They come from my mother-in law, and those are some happy and spoiled chickens.  So,  I was watching The Chew the other day and Mario Batali was talking about how he makes scrambled eggs.  So, I watched and I learned the best way, and the only way I'll ever make them again.

It's super easy, but the result is way better than what I've been doing, and maybe this is nothing new here.  Just new to me.

So, in a bowl I add however many eggs I need, a little non dairy unsweetened milk, some herbs, and some cheese if you want.  Other than the milk, what you put in is your choice.  So, then whisk it of course, but once you put the mixture in the pan keep whisking until they are done!  Makes them awesome, less eggy, and amazing in taste and texture.  Salt and pepper to taste of course.  Above I had mushrooms and spinach in the pan before I added the eggs. So good, try it next time you make up some scrambles!

Okay so smoothies...

I saw online that you can freeze coconut milk, you know that comes in a can not a carton.  So, I had some frozen and i put it in the blender along with frozen bananas, vanilla, unsweetened cocoa, tiny agave, and a dash of cinnamon.  Then used some drinking vanilla coconut milk just to blend to the right consistency.  Oh my yumminess!!   It's so good.  The frozen coconut milk makes it taste like a shake.  I've done this with fresh blueberries, and blackberries and strawberries as well.  You can add some kale of spinach and flax seed oil for some extra healthy and you don't even taste it.  Start out with just a little.  The baby loves them all!

So, freeze a can of full fat coconut milk in ice cube trays and add to your next smoothie!!