artichoke hummus

There was once a time where I was an avid hummus buyer. I would buy my overpriced tub of hummus because it tasted so good.

Sometimes, I would hold off on buying it just in case it went on sale. And then when it never did, I would buy it anyways. After all, good hummus deserves to be in my belly.

Besides, if I never bought the overpriced, delicious hummus, then what other hummus would I eat? I couldn't just go without hummus...what kind of world would that be?! That's until I discovered making your own hummus (read: I finally realized that it really is that easy to make your own).

It's actually the overpriced hummus's fault for being so overpriced that lead to my hummus-making abilities. I bet it wishes it would have lowered its price a little because, unfortunately, we probably won't be seeing each other for a while now. Unless it vows to drop its price to 1/2 off.

Artichoke Hummus

by Char

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups precooked chickpeas
• 3/4 of 14oz can artichokes in water, reserving the water and a few artichokes for garnish
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• juice from 3/4 lemon
• 2 small garlic cloves
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder (if you run out of garlic cloves like me)
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 2 tbsp tahini

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a food processor (this includes the water from the artichokes) and blend until well-combined.

Drizzle with high quality olive oil and garnish with fresh or dried parsley.

Serve with fresh vegetables or tortilla chips or even quinoa socca (since it's not chickpea related).

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For a hummus newbie, I think I did pretty good. I half expected that it would have actually been:

a) a waste of my chickpeas

b) something I would gag over but try to eat anyways for the sake of not wasting.

Obviously you can see my expectations are fairly low when trying something new! But, a life lesson I learned from this experience: don't be afraid to try new things...you might just surprise yourself!

Making my own hummus has actually fueled the fire. My next attempt will probably involve a lot of heat - that way if it doesn't turn out, my mouth will be half-paralyzed by peppers!

QUESTION: Any other hummus newbies out there? Or if you make it quite often, what are your favourite flavour combos?!

thursday things

Thursday Things = random facts I feel like sharing (mainly from today, but, honestly, just whatever pops to mind). You should do some Thursday Things, too (or Friday, or Saturday) and link back.

1. I'm on day 6 of working out in a row. Why am I emphasizing this everyday? Well, as a student, some days I'm on campus for 11 hours wishing I could just be at the gym having CrossFit kick my butt. So obviously my vow to workout everyday while on break is totally sticking. Downfall: I smell everyday.

2. I ran tonight (which was less torturous than my Tuesday run...thank goodness) and I'm doing the CrossFit Open workout tomorrow. You know you want to do it, too (7 minutes to do as many burpees as you can). Tina's husband did 119. My hubby said the highest at our gym (from this morning) was 115. He was leaving work as people in the evening were doing it, so there is potential for a higher number.

3. This whole workout thing really puts a damper on having clean hair. I'm sorry hair, but there are sacrifices you have to make for the sake of staying in shape. One day you'll understand.

4. I'm making a batch and a half of cookies tonight. It's kind of like a challenge for the husband and I. We each get a baking sheet and see whose cookies turn out better (ie: mine every. single. time.)

5. I made a ridiculously good hummus yesterday. Look for that recipe here tomorrow (especially if you like artichokes).

6. Yesterday was the first time I ever made hummus. Why have I never made hummus before? Did I really just waste the last 25 years of my life not making hummus...yup.

7. Peanut butter is my drug. I buy it in bulk and it feels like I'm constantly refilling the damn thing. Yet another trip to Bulk Barn tomorrow - let's just hope they don't notice this addiction, or if they do, a discount would be nice.

8. Today felt like spring, but that was just a tease. This is what we have to look forward to overnight and tomorrow:

9. I think I'm addicted to Caffe Americano's...well done, Starbucks. (PS - for the best way to enjoy it: top with soy milk and get 2 pumps of cinnamon dolce flavouring).

10. The husband and I eat this same dish every week without ever getting sick of it...ever. Ever! One little tip: add way more veggies than the recipes asks for. Tonight's addition was: kale, broccoli, yellow pepper, brown mushrooms, onion, carrots, celery and bok choy. Like I said...I eat greens. Now it's time to match my veggie consumption in cookies...I mean, I am doing a bunch of burpees in the morning!

quick quinoa socca

What's a life lesson that you probably use everyday with or without realizing it? To make do with what you have.

No tape to hang the picture? Use gum.
No bowl for your cereal? Use a mug.
No scissors to cut the tag off your new shirt? Use your teeth.
No toothbrush? Use your finger.

Ok, just don't tell my mom about the last two.

This is where socca comes in. Since I had used up the rest of the rice from my previous lunch, I knew I wouldn't have any to use for dinner. But, I knew with the dish I was making, I would definitely need something to soak up the sauciness of it. Rice is normally my companion, but life lesson told me that I needed to make do with what I had, and that wasn't rice.

What do I have? Why couldn't I have just decided to have cereal for dinner instead...in a mug.

From my internal dialogue, it went from rice to bread to flatbread to socca. Only problem was I didn't have chickpea flour, either (aka socca's main ingredient). Life lesson almost told me to just suck it up, scrap sauce's soak-me-up partner and eat the dish as a stew, until I remembered something.

What about quinoa flour? I know I have some of that I-bought-it-because-it-sounded-cool-but-now-I-don't-know-what-to-do-with-it stuff. It could easily replace chickpea flour...right?

Lets just say it worked...like teeth through a price tag!

Quinoa Socca

by Char

Prep Time: 5 mins

Cook Time: 5 mins

6018293

Ingredients (10 -15 (depending on size))

• 1 cup + 2 tbsp quinoa flour
• 1 cup water
• 1.5 tbsp canola oil
• 1/2 tbsp cumin

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk until smooth consistency.

In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, add some more oil and pour the batter into pan. Watch closely as it doesn't take long for one side to firm up. Keep flipping until desired texture and done-ness (I liked some a little crispy!).

Sprinkle with sea salt when socca is done.

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Ready in 5 minutes flat and delicious. That's what life lessons are all about.

And this, my friends, is how you make do while working out at home when you have none of the equipment (ie: equalizers, large box/steps) required to do the workout:

I call this one TV stand step-up.

Chair and mop bar pull-ups.

Equalizing abs without the equalizer.

I suppose it's better than using your finger to brush your teeth. ;)

Side note: this marks day 5 of working out in a row while off school!!!


QUESTION: What are some of the ways you "make do" with what you have??

volunteering

It's recommended that as a nutrition student, you do some volunteering so that your resume looks more desirable (or something along those lines) for when you actually apply to a dietetic internship (ie: to show you have some experience).

To get the ball rolling, I started volunteering at my local hospital at the start of January; helping the dietitian and diet tech with whatever they needed! You might be super jealous to know that as a volunteer, I rock a pretty mean vest (mandatory that volunteers wear).

I'm sure they have a few million extras lying around if anyone wants me to pick them one up ;)

My current task is to put together an informative display for what is known as Nutrition Month (which happens every March), via the Dietitians of Canada website. Each year DC picks a certain nutrition topic to cover - this year's theme is "Get the real deal on your meal!" Here's a look at what it consists of:

What this means is that they've put together a bunch of food myths, and then facts to go against these myths (the red arrow opens down to deliver the truth associated with the above myths). I think this is a great idea for Nutrition Month, but what do you do when you don't agree with all the myths and facts they cover? I'm trying my best to ignore the facts (and even the myths!) that I don't entirely agree with because in all honesty, will anyone ever entirely agree about all the same food ideas?! Highly doubtful.

I do find it to be a very interesting project though and a great way to get involved with DC and my hospital! Any opinions on volunteering while in school? Do you think it's a good way to get your 'foot in the door' or to have an advantage on other students?

After finishing up volunteering for the morning, I came home starving. I dove into some sauteed greens (kale and chard) tossed in some oil with minced garlic, tahini, nutritional yeast and a squeeze of lemon juice to top.

I paired it with some leftover brown and wild rice I had, and topped with some pepper (I never forget the pepper!)

I find these sauteed greens highly addictive, and could probably eat a pound of kale just by preparing it like this. Since I sat down to eat this meal, I don't think I've moved from the couch!

You see, I'm actually on my reading week from school right now, which means I have a week to do nothing. It is the most glorious time. I know by the name it might imply that reading week means you do some reading during that week, but I can't bring myself to do it! I might do a bit of reading (come Sunday night), but as of now, I'm enjoying being able to read and watch whatever I want! Plus, it's not like I have homework, so is reading really necessary?! No, that's what I thought ;)

It's Tuesday, which means cheap night at the movies. Too bad it also means that the hubby plays b-ball. So instead of cheap movie date, hubby will be hitting the court and I will be tearing up the treadmill. This actually works better since my goal for reading week is to workout everyday. I actually started this goal on Saturday, so tonight marks day 4 that I will have got my sweat on in a row!

How many days in a row is too many to workout?!

Time to get off the couch and pretend like I didn't just waste the afternoon watching on-tv movies and re-runs of shows I was half watching, while half building this blog!