5 minute hummus

5 minute hummus recipe

Great as a dip, spread, or meal starter!

Getting your children to eat healthy is no easy task but for this mom, it is a priority. Over time, I have found recipes that they enjoy and are so easy to make....this hummus dip is certainly one of them!
The main ingredient in hummus is garbanzo beans. Garbanzo beans are well known for their fiber content, their digestive support, and even for craving reduction!
This recipe can be made in only 5 minutes by using canned garbanzo beans! Let's face it, not everyone has a handy supply of tahini paste so feel free to substitute peanut butter.
You can jazz this recipe adding any of the following:

• 1/4 cup of jalepenos
• 3 tablespoons of horseradish (my favorite--not the kids though)
• 1/4 cup of red peppers
• Anything you like can easily be added!

Cook Time

Prep time: 5 min

Cook time: 5 min

Ready in: 10 min

Yields: About 2 cups!

Ingredients

• 1 can garbanzo beans, drained, reserve liquid
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin, ground
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons tahini paste, (or peanut butter!)
• 1 teaspoon olive oil

So Easy!

1. Add all ingredients into blender or food processor. Slowly add reserved liquid until the hummus is at your desired texture.
2. Serve and Enjoy!

Try it with this homemade flatbread!

Only  4 ingredients! Click Here to read more!

Toasted Chickpea Snack recipe

Toasted Chickpea Snack Recipe

Healthy, Tasty, and Addictive!

I have to be honest, when I first heard of toasted chickpeas (garbanzo beans) I thought that there was NO way I would like them. I have been a vegetarian for almost 4 years and have used that as my excuse to eat potato chips and cookies non-stop! Eventually, I realized that I wasn't practicing what I preached. I gave my kids healthy foods and snacks, yet I was a junk food junkie. The "healthy" snacks sold at the grocery were expensive and not that great. So, I decided to try to find some snack foods that I could make at home that would satisfy my cravings....This one did!

It is easy to make and can be altered in just about any way you would like.

• If you like them a bit more on the sweet side, add some sugar or stevia.
• Want them a bit spicier? Add some diced jalepenos to the mix as you bake them!
• Try them with Italian seasoning! A different twist but still awesome!
• Looking for an oriental spin? Use wasabi powder and soy sauce!

Cook Time

Prep time: 5 min

Cook time: 30 min

Ready in: 35 min

Yields: 2 cups

Ingredients

• 2 cans garbanzo beans, rinsed and dried
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce, any
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• to taste salt and pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon olive oil

Instructions

1. Lightly oil or spray a cookie sheet. Preheat oven to 450 degrees
2. Toss all ingredients together and spread out in a singe layer on cookie sheet.
3. Bake for approximately 25-30 minutes. This will depend on how crunchy you want them. Cook them for as long or as little as you like!
4. Serve warm and enjoy! if you are going to keep them, cover and keep in fridge.

Want to try more quick, easy, and healthy recipes?

Since you are already buying garbanzo beans try this
5 minute hummus Recipe!

Baked Kale makes a great substitute for potato chips
Try this Baked Kale Recipe!

Want to learn more about healthy grocery shopping?
Learn how to save money and get healthy by shopping the perimeter

Have questions about All Natural vs. Organic?
Get some answers Here! All Natural vs. Organic, which is better?

Healthy Snack Recipe! Baked Kale Chips

Try this Healthy Snack Recipe -Baked Kale Chips! 

Crunchy, Salty, and Addictive!

After my many years of struggling with my weight loss goals, I have finally learned one thing....deprivation is detrimental. My unhealthy eating and dieting comes directly from my mother. As a teenager we would regularly go on the "Tuna Fish Diet", "The Soup Diet", or even do an hour of aerobics followed by a large baked potato SMOTHERED in cheese and sour cream....something wasn't working. If this was the key to losing weight then we would both certainly be skinny. Don't get me wrong we would occasionally see some success and would lose 5-10 pounds only to pack them back on and repeat the process. I carried these yo-yo diets throughout my twenties until I finally figured out what the major problem was....I was depriving myself INSTEAD of building healthy eating habits.

I crave sweet and salty ALL THE TIME. I had always heard that kale chips were a great substitute for potato chips but I never believed the hype! They don't taste EXACTLY like potato chips, they have their own unique flavor but they are EXCELLENT. They feed your craving for crunchy and salty and are hard to stop eating! They take only about 20 minutes to make and a whole batch of them costs less than $2.00!
These kale chips aren't just for dieters! Bakes kale is featured on many popular food and cooking shows as an appetizer, garnish, and side dish. You can jazz them up however you want to make them your own.

Cook Time

Prep time: 10 min

Cook time: 10 min

Ready in: 20 min

Yields: about 4-6 servings depending on the head of kale

Ingredients

• 1 bunch Kale
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• to taste optional seasonings, chili powder, salt, red pepper flakes, etc.

Easy to Make!

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with non-stick spray (you can use parchment paper if you have it)
2. Remove thick stems from kale. Wash kale thoroughly under cool running water (kale tends to have particles of dirt trapped in the crevices so wash well). Cut the clean kale into 1 inch pieces.
3. Toss kale pieces in the olive oil and salt (and any additional seasonings you choose)
4. Place kale on cookie sheet in a thin layer and bake for about 10 minutes. You will look for the edges to get a bit brown but not burned.
5. Remove from sheet when cool and START SNACKING!

Experiment!

There are so many ways to experiment with this recipe. I suggest to first try them as the recipe states and then get crazy! I tend to like mine a bit over cooked with some chili powder.

I WISH I KNEW WHAT MY FIRST BATCH WAS LIKE! I tasted one "chip" from my first batch when my children hijacked the whole bowl. I will say that they are the type of kids who would choose an apple over potato chips and are constantly asking if what they are eating is "healthy". I would like to think that this is because I have taught them better than I was taught as a child....... but you never know, it could have more to do with the amount of children's media regarding healthy diets. I choose parental influence:) Either way, these kale chips were a hit with us ALL!

Enjoy and please let me know of any variations you try and LOVE!