Chana Masala

It's funny how taste buds change.  Back in my vegan teenager days I hated chickpeas.  Actually I hated all beans which made it very hard to get my complete proteins.  I used to force them down my throat because I knew they were healthy but I hated every minute of it!  Now, not only do I not mind black beans and kidney beans but I am also completely in love with chickpeas!  One of my favourite vegan dishes to make is Chana Masala because it's quick, easy and cheap!

Here is the recipe I follow (I believe I got it off the world wide web somewhere and modified it a little bit!):

Ingredients:

• 1 can chickpeas drained and rinsed (I use the largest can I can buy)
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, diced
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• juice from one lemon
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp garam masala (I use a spice just called Indian Spices)
• 1 large bunch of spinach or two handfuls, rinsed
• vegetable broth (to taste)
• 2 tbsp ground flax seeds

Preparation:

In a large skillet or frying pan, sautee onions and garlic in olive oil until soft, about 3-5 minutes.

Add chickpeas, spices and lemon juice, cover, and simmer about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, adding 2 tbsp of vegetable broth at a time if needed, until chickpeas are cooked and soft.

Reduce heat, add spinach and cover. Allow spinach to wilt for about 5 minutes.  Stir in the ground flax (I try to put ground flax in all of my cooking to get my Omega 3's.  Enjoy!

Magical Coconut Cookie Bars

While watching tv the other night, a Bueno commercial came on.  Being full vegans Buenos are off our 'edible' list but Hubby asked me if I could find something yummy that incorporated chocolate and coconut.  Immediately I began flipping through one of my favourite sweet-tooth books - Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar and found a yummy sounding recipe titled Magical Coconut Cookie Bars.  I picked up the ingredients and set to work assembling the bars later the next day.  It didn't take long to prepare - the hardest part was letting them sit overnight since they looked so incredibly delicious!  When we cut into them the following day and had our first taste, we were literally making little hmmmming noises!  Utterly fab!

26.

It's birthday week at our house!  Hubby and I are a whole 48 hours apart in age so we always celebrate together!  It began with family festivities at the beginning of the week and I took care of dessert!

I made vegan cupcakes (actually the first cupcakes I've ever made in my life), following the recipe off one of my favourite veg chef's website here:

http://www.theppk.com/2010/11/vanilla-bean-cupcakes-with-chocolate-ganache/

I found these to taste a little more like a muffin than a super sweet cupcake but the chocolate sauce added just the right amount of sweet.

Then on my birthday I woke up to a beautiful bouquet of flowers!

Hubby had already taken the dogs to the dog park when he jumped back in bed to deliver sweet birthday kisses and then we were off to Ste. Anne's Spa in Grafton, Ontario.

We had spent a few days there last year for our wedding anniversary and fell in love with the place.  Since we are both in retail this time of the year is particularly busy and a day off to be pampered with not a care in the world was most welcomed!

Amidst swimming in the pool, relaxing in the hot tubs and breathing deep in the eucalyptus room I enjoyed a morning seaweed body wrap and a late afternoon hot stone massage.  Oh and there may have been an enjoyable nap on a swinging hammock in there somewhere too!