Roasted Chickpeas

I began writing as a hobby in high school and have continued, mostly because it’s soothing and partly because I suck at talking.  I write because when I speak, I stutter and my words don’t seem to come out properly or the way I want them to. When I write, my words are smooth and my sentences connect. I am no longer inept.  Cranberries turn into verbs and politics turn into champagne. I do not have hair or eyelids or fingernails or freckles or breasts and I do not have a shadow.  Just me and a keyboard, or a pen and a notebook.

If possible, I would never speak, only write. Because words spoken are final and I am never final, only continually developing as a being, a sculptor, a writer, a blogger. Spoken words are conclusive, but not always truth, again leaving me to favor written words with no clothes on – naked and undeniable, for the world to see.  No blonde hair and no green eyes.

That’s what writing online is all about for me.  Taking facts of life and knitting them into a blanket of unedited authenticity.  It’s true everyone has problems, it’s true that we’re judged for them, but it’s also true that we can use our obstacles as our power.  Sharing my story, facts, and recipes….that is my power.

Enter the next recipe.

Roasted Chickpeas

Ingredients:

-1-2 tbsp olive oil

-1 can chickpeas

-3 tsp chili powder

-1 tsp lime juice

-1 tsp cumin

-1 tsp onion powder

-1/2 tsp sea salt

 

 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Drain and rinse chickpeas.

3. Cover baking sheet in tin foil and spray pan with some Pam.

4. Spread chickpeas across baking sheet.

5. Bake chickpeas for 45 min-1 hour.

6. After chickpeas are cooked, put into bowl and mix together with olive oil, spices, and lime juice.

7. EAT THEM.

 

 

Energy Bites

For the purpose of attracting good attention, I named this blog ‘Energy Bites.’  But I actually call them Energy Beebles.  I’m not going to lie, it’s mostly for the purpose of annoying my boyfriend, Blaine.

Beeble – anything that is small and/or cute that you don’t know the name for.

There is nothing more annoying to Blaine than when I call something a ‘beeble.’  “It’s not even a word!” he says.  Well I made it up and I think I’m pretty cool, so therefore, it is a word.  He's from Newfoundland and if you know anything about Newfies, they’re the royalty of making up words.

I recently downloaded an app on my phone called ‘Whaddaya App.’  You pick a saying or word in English and it will say it in Newfanese.  I sat on the couch one night with Blaine reading out the regular English sayings and having him translate them before I activated the Newfie way of saying things.  And, not surprisingly, he translated them all correctly.

For example:

"I do not believe you, sir” – Go on whicha by 

“I’m very thankful to you” – God bless your cotton socks

“I am interesting in courting you” – Misssesss, whaddaya at?

“Sir, you are not very smart” – Buddy you’re some stunned you is

And, my favourite.......

“You are unattractive” – you gotta face on you like a hen’s arsehole in the northwest wind

What the hell, right??  Who invented that language?  “Someone awesome,” is Blaine’s response.  And I probably have to agree.  There is no one more friendly, welcoming (and crazy) than a Newfie.

So, I’m thinking that making fun of me for making up the world ‘Beeble’ is not that bad after all.  Agreed?

Anyway, let’s get down to business.  There are many different recipes out there for energy bites.  I have played with different ingredients, and this one came out as my favorite. 

Energy Beebles

Ingredients:

-1 cups oats (There is gluten free oats out there so depending on how allergic you are, this is probably a smart choice)

-1 and 1/3 cups coconut

-1 cup flaxseed (or protein powder)

-1 cup chopped dates

-1 cup peanut butter

-2/3 cup honey

-2 tsp vanilla

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients together in bowl and mix
2. Put in fridge for ½ hour
3. Using your hands, roll into even balls.

And, that’s it.  Simple, right?  This is a great item you can pop in your mouth for a little energy before hitting the gym or throughout the day as a snack.

Honey is a wonderful ingredient in this recipe because it is known to provide relief from constipation and indigestion.  Studies have shown that honey can help treat IBS and IBD, as it provides protection against damage of the colon and reduces inflammation.  It is also used as a stress reliever to promote good mental health, as its ingredients have a calming effect.  This recipe also contains peanut butter, which is high in calories and fat, but is a great energy booster and has been connected to helping reduce depression.

Flax.  Flax is one of my favourite ingredients to use in recipes, as it is jam packed full of nutritional benefits.  These include fighting cholesterol, cancer, constipation, inflammation, diabetes, and depression.  Flax contains both soluble and insoluble fibre, which assist in regular bowel movements.  Flax is the richest source of Omega 3 fatty acids, which is an ingredient that most people with mental illness lack.  Studies have shown that by adding 2-3 tbsps of flax to your diet each day, an individual’s depression can improve after 9-10 months.

Who wouldn’t want these benefits?

Mac & Cheese Quinoa

Oh, hello.  It's been a couple weeks.  I've been on holidays for the past 10 days so I took a little time off from the computer and headed to Vancouver & spent some time relaxing.  But now I am back, refreshed, and ready to rock with the recipes! (Yes, that alliteration was on purpose).

After my holidays, life delivered me the cold from the underworld.  Five days of sneezing, hacking, sleeping, bathing, snotting and fevering.  But, close to the end of my health crisis, I had some extra time to spend experimenting with Quinoa.  One of my favorite recipes that came out of it was Mac & Cheese Quinoa.

Mac & Cheese Quinoa

Ingredients:

-1.5 cups quinoa

-Salt and pepper

-1 clove garlic, minced

-2 eggs

-1 cup milk (could also be soy milk)

-Cheese

-Veggies

-Panko Crumbs (you can get gluten free ones at Safeway or Bulk Barn)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

2. Cook quinoa (follow instructions on package)

3. Saute any veggies that you want to use with garlic.  I used Broccoli.  

4. Whisk together eggs and milk in a large bowl.  Once Quinoa is cooked, stir into bowl with eggs/milk mixture.  Add cheese and salt/pepper.  Mix well.

5. Coat a baking dish with cooking spray and pour mixture into this dish.  Sprinkle cheese and panko crumbs on top.

6. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the top is browned.