Chickpeas + Escarole

First off, forgive my absence.  I suppose I am not really cut out for this blogging thing but I am trying.  I really want to give you a true review of each recipe that I make.  So bear with me as I attempt to do this.

My latest dish (that I am eating as I write this) is Chickpeas and Escarole in White Wine Broth is amazing.  Who knew that this lettuce looking stuff could be so delicious.  It was nestled somewhere between the endive and dino kale.  I wasn't too sure if I was grabbing the right one.  But the recipe stated that it looked something like romaine so I know I was in the right area.

I love a dish that comes together so easily and can be made with one of my favorite pantry staples... chickpeas or garbanzo beans depending on how you are feeling on any given day.  Super simple ingredients that didn't require an extra grocery trip (and considering that my boys are still on summer break they had to make the trek with me) it was a nice perk.

I added some avocado but really wanted to throw this over some rice.  I am trying to cut back on carbs (you know like everyone is these days) and the substitute was AWESOME.

This dish came out of Isa Does It... which is quickly becoming one of my favorite cookbooks.  If you don't have it, get it and add it to your cookbook library.  I hope you enjoy this dish as much as I did.  This will make a nice quick dish on the days I need to cook but don't really want to!!

Chocolate Covered Banana Bites

For the past few weeks I have been seeing these cute little frozen banana bites on Facebook...

But who really stops to make them?  I have a ton of items pinned on Pinterest and have yet to make them.  Well I looked in my cupboard and I have the ingredients... 3 of them to be exact and went to work.

And they are amazing... I can't wait for my kids to try them.  They do take a little time to make but they are well worth it.  I did some chores while waiting for the bananas to freeze and listened to my favorite podcast while applying the chocolate.

Chocolate Covered Banana Bites

ripe bananas
1 cup of dairy-free chocolate chips
2 tbsp coconut oil

Chop the bananas into bite sized pieces.  Place on parchment covered cookie sheet and freeze for an hour to 90 minutes.  Once the bananas are frozen place the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a bowl and microwave at 30 second intervals and stir until all the chips are melted.

Put a banana slice on a fork (or just throw them in one at a time in the chocolate) and use a spoon to cover in chocolate.  Slide them off the fork and back onto the parchment paper.  Freeze for a little while and them start eating!!

I just let mine sit in the freezer and pop them when I need a little sweetness!!

ENJOY!!!

Vegan Carrot Dogs!

Ok... I follow a ton of vegans, on Facebook and Instagram.  The "Carrot Dog" thing has been making its rounds.  I have been hesitant to try it since my husband and I both agree that if you want to be vegan why should you eat "pretend meat".  Does that mean that you secretly want to go back to eating meat?  But that is another subject.

I pushed aside the idea of making these carrot dogs for months now... but we have a big camping trip planned and hot dogs and camping seem to go hand in hand.  They are such an easy food to prepare and they are hand held.  So I sucked it up and found a recipe.  One of my oldest friends posted on her Instagram that she made them... so I asked her for the recipe...

She referred me to the Clean Eating Veggie Girl.  This is the recipe that I followed... Vegan Carrot "Hot Dogs".  I have to say that I was so amazed at how good these were.  I mean, honestly, how could a carrot in any way resemble a hot dog.  But the crunch of the carrot was gone and all the marinade had taken over and made this super smoky goodness.

After taking the photo I added ketchup, mustard and sauerkraut... my favorite hot dog toppings.  But the skies the limit with these puppies.  They actually give you the feeling of a hot dog without all the... the... processed gross-ness that they are.  I got my 6 year old to take a bite but he spit it out.  I think he will come around one day.  My husband has yet to try them but I am hopeful.

These are fantastic and I look forward to joining around the campfire with my omnivorous friends on our camping trip... score one for vegans!!!

Spice Cake Surprise

There are few things that I love more than cake... my children, my husband and Jesus.  But cake comes right after that.  Lately I have been making more and more of them.  But when they come out of the Happy Herbivore cookbooks you know that you are getting a low-fat homemade dish that is always delicious.

I also love that my pantry is generally well stocked since we made the leap to a WFPB (whole food plant based) lifestyle.  I wanted something sweet and came across this recipe in Happy Herbivore Light and Lean.  This cake was a cinch to put together and even more enjoyable to eat.  My kids loved it, my husband loved it and I did too!

I can't wait to bake this for my bible study and family dinners!