Hummus!!! And a new Twitter account

Hummus!!

I have fallen in love with this stuff! It's amazing.....healthy.....tasty......very versatile....

There are lots of different recipes and ways to make hummus.....the most popular is chickpeas (garbanzo beans), tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. I don't like tahini......it just has kinda a weird taste to me....there are some purists out there who refuse to even believe that you can make hummus without it....I beg to differ. (tahini is a paste made out of sesame seeds)

You can also add in paprika, roasted pepper, and/or salt.....then everything is just ground up to a smooth paste like consistency.

Health Benefits

• Chickpeas (garbanzo beans) are very good for you because they are rich in protein and contain no cholesterol or saturated fats.  Chickpeas are also known to be effective in preventing build up of cholesterol in the blood vessels.
• Olive oil is known for being high in healthy fat - it is high in monounsaturated fat content but low in saturated fat. This oil can thus help regulate cholesterol and protect the heart from various diseases.
• Garlic and lemon juice, meanwhile, are filled with antioxidants. They also work to improve your immune system and fight off bacteria and viruses.
• Altogether, hummus contains iron, vitamin B6, manganese, copper, folic acid, and amino acids. It also contains omega 3 fatty acids, which helps to  improve intelligence and maintaining a healthy heart. 

 

 Ways to use Hummus

• use as a dip for veggies such as peppers, carrots, and celery
• to replace mayo on sandwiches or pitas
• as a dip for pita chips/bread
• add to plain whole wheat noodles with some parmesan cheese ( I do this for my kids since they are picky eaters and they won't eat meat sometimes - adds lots of protein to their meals and they LOVE it!)
• add to sauteed onion and peppers with extra veggies such as corn or cauliflower and some chicken (this is SO good!)
• add to wonton wrappers and bake it then dip it in your fav chutney sauce
• use as a base "sauce" for pizza then add onion, peppers, chicken, mozzarella cheese and basil (had this for lunch today...also added some salsa just because for some reason it sounded good lol....and it was!)
• to replace cream cheese in some layered dips or on a tortilla (whole wheat tortilla with hummus, peppers and spinich)
• can be used to replace the yolks and mayo combo in deviled eggs
• can be used to thicken soups
• cherry tomatoes can be filled with hummus - cut off the tops of cherry tomatoes, scoop out the seeds, and use a piping bag to fill each tomato with hummus.
• and one person recommended using hummus as an exfolient for your face.....not sure about this one......if you do it let me know how it turns out! lol I would rather be eating it ........ 

Hummus

Ingredients:

• 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas/garbanzo beans, drained, liquid reserved
• 1 clove garlic, crushed .....or 2.....I like garlic
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons paprika

Directions:

1. In a blender or food processor combine garbanzo beans, garlic, cumin, paprika, salt and olive oil. Blend on low speed, gradually adding reserved bean liquid, until desired consistency is achieved. 

I usually double the recipe and freeze half......we go through it fast though so it doesn't stay in the freezer long.....but it will keep in the freezer for about 2-3 months.

 

 

I also signed up for Twitter! Finally (as my husband would say.....lol)

Check it out and tell me what you think! My Twitter handle is @eatcake_bakery

I don't have many tweets yet because I spent most of my time designing the background.....so really let me know what you think of it lol! I have a whole 5 followers so far! Woohoo! lol

Green Monster Smoothie!

I'm so excited for this post! I have been wanting to try this smoothie since I first saw it like at least a year ago! I wasn't too sure of it at first.....I mean it's green! A pretty green, yes......however, still green!

My hubby got me a Oyster Smoothie Blend and Go Cup for Christmas :) I LOVE it!!!! It's SO convenient - all you do is blend it right in the cup and switch lids - barely any cleanup! Just my type of kitchen gadget! lol 

I've been making the usual smoothies which are good - like strawberry/blueberry with oatmeal - however, I wanted something a little bit more.

Doesn't that look beautiful?!

This is chock full of vitamins like A, C, K, iron, fiber, folate, and lutein..........Leutin is an antioxidant that promotes good eye health, and may help prevent cancer of the liver, ovaries, colon and prostate, and even dementia.

There are loads of people who claim that green smoothies help....

•  smooth and clear skin exponentially
• decrease acne
• increase energy levels
• speed up hair and nail growth
• encourage shinier, healthier hair
• improve overall feelings of health

So what's to lose?! Plus as my hubby and I discovered....they are DELICIOUS!!!! They don't even taste healthy!

Here are the basic ingredients: 

• Full-Fat, Organic Yogurt (3 Tbsp): For the creaminess, and the protein
• Spinach or Kale (1-2 handfuls): It just wouldn’t be a raw, fresh, green smoothie without one of these two ingredients 
• Banana (1 whole, peeled, frozen banana): To add body, potassium, and creaminess to the smoothie

 Other Things You Can Use in a Green Smoothie:

• Fruits of any shape, taste or size (I used frozen strawberries - if you use a colored berry such as blueberries your smoothie will turn brown!)
• Oatmeal (I LOVE adding oatmeal to smoothies! They really help to fill you up!)
• Peanut butter
• Honey, agave, stevia, or other sweeteners
• Wheatgrass, Kale, or any other type of healthy green powdered veggie/grass
• Ground flax seeds, hemp hearts, maca powder, chia seeds
• Milk (cow, almond, coconut, rice, almond, etc.)
• Veggies of any shape, taste, or size
• Flavorings like vanilla extract, orange extract, molasses (VERY healthy), and more
• Cocoa powder
• Coffee or tea
• The kitchen sink

 From what I've found there really are no set rules for a green smoothie other than the green part :) Though, I have read  that you do not want to leave out the banana - apparently the banana is what "cancels" out the "green taste".

Here is the smoothie that I made today

• 3 Tbsp Organic Vanilla Yogurt
• about 1/2 cup milk
• one full banana - sliced
• about 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
• 2 handfuls of spinach
• about 1 Tbsp honey

(I put "about" with a few of them because I really don't measure the ingredients, I just put in what looks right and after I blend it sometimes it will be too thick so I will add in more milk or too thin so I will add another frozen strawberry or some protein powder)

Blend all together in a blender and enjoy!!!

Here is my daughter enjoying her green monster! Wouldn't she be surprised to learn that there is spinach in it!

A Heath Fair and Caramel Apples

I'm having a hard time knowing how to start and what to write today...........I have a lot on my mind. I lost a friend yesterday from a terrible car accident. It really makes you think about your life and how you are living it. My life at home is wonderful. I have the greatest husband a girl could ask for, and 2 beautiful children.

Work, however, is a different story altogether! I hate my job - I work at a retail store in the bakery. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the actual work that I do, but I hate the people that I work for. They think nothing of treating you with as little respect as possible because, to them, all you are is a disposable number.
This is me, trying to talk to managment..........

I have had people in the past ask me if I'm going to try to move up in the company....I refer to this quote........."I honestly believe that it is better to be a failure at something you love rather than a success at something you hate." George Burns. I do not want to spend a minute more of my life doing something that I hate! You never know how short your life will be!

So that being said, I did something that I love the other day :) I cooked up some delicious, healthy food for the Health Fair at the retirement community where my hubby works. I used the fresh veggies from the farmer's market that set up a stand outside the building and had the recipe printed out for everybody to take so they can make it at home. This was the recipe that I cooked up - Ratatouille Pasta. It was a hit! I had many compliments and questions about my cooking and healthy eating. (I even had some people ask me if I'm a chef :)

 A picture of me that I actually like...........

You can't read it but my apron says "Come to the dark side, we have cookies. -V"  :)

Cutting up the garlic cloves..........my hands still smell like garlic.....I did make spaghetti yesterday though....

The finished product :) smelled so good!

The bowls are almost gone!

It was a great day! Afterwards, I went grocery shopping at a new store that my good friend Jake told me about. Its a marketplace that sells probably 70-80% organic/Michigan made food! It's AMAZING! Their veggies and fruit were all Michigan grown and great looking, they had a lot of different fruits and veggies that I've never been able to find anywhere else (I bought Anise.....soooo excited to cook it up!) They also have fresh meats (including fresh ground turkey YAY!), fresh salads (including hummus), Amish made butter, organic canned foods, like crushed tomatoes :), and what I was the most excited over, fresh local milk in a glass bottle! It was, admittedly a little bit more pricey than the conventional milk - but it's worth it. It was delicious and much healthier! 

Our grocery bill has gone up a little bit, but it's just a matter of prioritizing what you spend your money on. I, personally, would rather spend a little bit more money on food that is healthy and good for you, rather than spend less money on food that is laden with chemicals and hormones that are not meant to be in our bodies. My whole family is healthier, for instance, my hubby has lost 50lbs just by eating healthy and his mild IBS is virtually non-existent now. So, actually, we are probably saving money on health bills that we would have gotten later on in life! 

So the perfect ending to this day goes like this............

1. Take a can of sweetened condensed milk

2. Peel the label off and put in a pot filled with water

3. Simmer for about 3 hours - DON'T forget to keep adding water! (I forgot about it once.......it wasn't pretty....) While you are waiting, light a few pumpkin spice candles......hmmmmm soooo good! I'm sooo in the mood for fall!! And if you aren't now, you will be with the candles and apples with caramel :)

4. After about 3 hours take it out of pot and let it cool down. I usually put it in the fridge and leave it overnight. DO NOT open it right away! It will be pressurized and it will hurt you!

5. After it is cooled down, open and this is what you will see.........

6. Slice up some apples and enjoy! (If you want to go overboard a little bit, heat up some apple cider to go along with it......that's what I did :) It also wouldn't hurt to cuddle up with your sweetie on the couch with a blanket and a good movie :)

And here is a thought to leave you with...........

Personally, I would open up a healthy, organic bakery/cafe

Handmade Roses and Homemade Chili

So, I had a lazy day today. I spent waayyyy too much time being obsessed with Pintrest! I also like to be obessed with both Foodgawker and Craftgawker, if you have never been to any of these websites, go now! (actually finish reading my post first lol)  Today it was all about the crafts :)

Here are a few awesome things that I found today.......

 I ABSOLUTLY love handmade rosettes! Whether it be paper, ribbon, cloth, or what-have-you - it doesn't matter - I love them! So I tried them out today :) Here are a few newspaper roses and some ribbon roses that I made. Plans are to use them for Christmas presents......I figure if I get started on them now, I might be able to finish by Christmas lol.

The newspaper roses I plan on painting.......I'm thinking white with a hint of pink? The fabric roses are glued down to the paper so they stay together, then I'm going to cut them out using a craft knife. I can them use them for whatever craft I want, like a headband with roses, picture frame, a wreath..........the list goes on  :) Maybe if anybody is interested I will post a tutorial on how to make them sometime in the future.

Along with my crafty mood today, I have also been craving everything fall related. I have pumpkin spice candles out, blankets on the couch, apple cider in the fridge, sticks from caramel apples in the garbage.......the only thing missing (besides the leaves changing color) is our fall food staple - CHILI!

I don't love chili, I like it ok, just not a favorite......unless it's fall. For some reason it just tastes better with pumpkin spice candles and cooler weather :) I have experimented with different chili recipes over the past few years, and I'm pretty sure that the chili that I made today comes out on top. It's a little bit different...........lots of beans, chili beans and lentils (I put lentils in EVERYTHING now) and I added corn this time. I usually only use turkey burger instead of red meat, however, I didn't have any on hand, instead I had bear burger. It's ok........not my favorite.........I just don't generally like red meat.  So anyways..........here's the recipe for your enjoyment :)

Homemade Chili

Ingredients:

1  28 oz can crushed tomatoes (no salt added)
1  6 oz can tomato paste
1 medium onion - diced
1 medium green pepper - diced
3 garlic cloves - minced
1 bag frozen corn or 1 can of no salt added corn
1   15 oz can chicken stock (can substitute water if you don't have any on hand)
2 cups uncooked lentils
1  15 oz can chili beans
2 bay leaves
1 lb meat - cooked - and seasoned with chili seasoning - I like to use turkey burger for less calories
pinch of salt and pepper
sour cream and/or cheddar cheese for garnish


Instructions:

1.  Mix all the ingredients (not including garnishes) in a largish crock pot and turn on low for 6-8 hours or turn on high for 3-4 hours.
2. Add your favorite toppings such as sour-cream and/or cheddar cheese
3.  Enjoy with crackers or cornbread........yummmmm cornbread.......didn't have any tonight :(


Now, I think I'm gonna go work on a knitting project that I started last year lol................

The Farmers Market

Have you ever been to a farmer's market? It's great! We have a couple of small farmer's markets around here but I've read about big street markets elsewhere - where there are dozens of different stands with everything from fruits and veggies to fresh meat to organic beauty products - I dream about those......

Anyways, however big or small they are, they are a goldmine for wonderful fresh fruits and veggies. This time around I got yellow summer squash, zucchini, blueberries, celery, tomatoes, potatoes, cantaloupe, cherry tomatoes, red bell peppers, and a dozen ears of corn. The prices are the same if not cheaper than going to the supermarket. Everybody always thinks that it's more expensive - fresh and organic fruits and veggies = more expensive right? Nope! Not at all! Not only is it better tasting and looking, it is better for you (organic = no chemical pesticides) and you are supporting your local farms! How can you beat that?!

This time I went to the farmer's market over by where I work. I must admit that I prefer the one closer to home. The one by my work is more convenient for sure (I can just pop over there after work or on my lunch break),  however, the one by where we live (actually about 15 min away) has more produce plus fish, baked goods, and raw, organic honey. But since we are usually on a time constraint, I have to go with the more convenient one for now.

Now all I have to do is figure out my menu for the next 2 weeks :) I used to make out a menu for 2 weeks and then make my grocery list accordingly, however, now I find that it is easier to go shopping first so I know what fresh produce I can get. I then make out my menu from what I bought - there is so many different meals to make from fresh veggies! All sorts of pasta, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and side dishes - lots of variety! My hubby is even ok with eating them vegetarian once or twice a week!

So the next time you are on your way to the grocery store, keep this in mind! You can even stop at one of those little roadside stands. I know you see them and probably pass them and wonder what they have. They can be just as good as the farmer's market, plus cheap and convenient. You will be eating healthier and supporting your local economy - how can you not feel good about that?!