i'm back with black bean hummus!

It's been awhile, but I'm back!  Over the last few months, I've been a little overwhelmed.  However, I can officially say that I'm leaving the high school I've been at for the last three years.  It is definitely bittersweet, but I'm moving onto middle school--eighth grade to be exact!

 

David graduated law school in May.  He was the student speaker at graduation, and did an amazing job!  In other exciting news, David and I are moving to Atlanta towards the end of the summer!  So many big changes, but we are very excited!

As you can see, we have had a lot going on!

With so much going on lately, we've been sticking to the regular rotation of our staple dinners and snacks.  But now that summer is here, I have a little bit more free time to work in the kitchen!  Recently, I had some Eat Well Embrace Life Sweet and Spicy Black Bean Hummus.  I loved it! 

So I set out to make my own version.  I love homemade hummus so much more than store bought.  It turned out to be great!  Typically, hummus recipes call for tahini (roasted sesame seed paste).  I am not a fan of the taste, so I leave it out, and I don't miss it!

Black Bean Hummus

1 (15oz) can black beans, drained

1 (15oz) can chickpeas, drained

2 cloves minced garlic

1 lime, squeezed

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 cup fresh cilantro

2 tbsp olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Optional: Add a diced jalapeno.

Place all of the ingredients into a food processor and puree.

Slowly add additional chili powder for more heat if desired.

ENJOY :)

chili lime salt edamame

I got to spend a lot of time with my mama this summer, and it was great!  We worked out, cooked, shopped, and just hung out together.  On one of our last days of summer fun, we shopped at an outlet mall that had just opened.  After a day of restocking our closets, we ate a late dinner at a new restaurant called Taqueria Tsunami.  In addition to enjoying some asian inspired tacos and salad, my mama felt inspired to try something new - edamame.  Neither of us had ever had tried it before, but we LOVED IT.

Ever since that dinner, I have had an itch to make my own similar edamame.  

Well it happened...I just made some amazing edamame. This recipe will make you want to eat the entire bowl!

Chili Lime Salt Edamame

1 bag of fully cooked frozen edamame (Trader Joe's)

1 tsp olive oil

1 tsp ground red pepper

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

2 juiced limes (separated)

I tossed the frozen edamame into boiling water for a minute or two to soften it up.

While the edamame was warming up, I put the olive oil, ground and crushed red pepper, and half the lime juice into a skillet and began heating it up.

I drained the edamame and tossed them in the skillet.  Coating them in the mixture.

Then I put them in a bowl and poured the remaining lime juice over the top.

This is one of my new favorite things, but I'm always looking for new recipes! How do you cook your edamame?

Roasted Green Beans and Mushrooms

This weekend has been so much fun! Friday night, David and I went on date night as usual.

We watched the end of the Braves game at dinner and saw the in-fly ball call.

Let's just say, so far, not a good weekend for Georgia sports.

However, I still love my Dawgs!

David and I threw a little get together for the game last night.

But more on that another time!

Onto the food!

The challenge I have found with a low-carb diet is coming up with good side dishes.

I am a creature of habit.

Once I find something I love (for example, mashed cauli) I wear it out.

So I've been searching for something different, something yummy that is not just frozen veggies.

And something easy.

Let me preface this recipe by saying, you will not be able to control yourself.

In fact, David and I tried it before plating it for dinner and had to stop ourselves so we would have some left!  This recipe is SO good and SO easy and SO addicting!

And being the creature of habit that I am, we ate it as a side TWICE last week!

I hope you love them as much as we do!

Roasted Green Beans and Mushrooms

Fresh cut green beans

Mushrooms

1 1/2 tbsp Olive Oil

2 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar

Salt and Pepper to your liking

Parmesan to your liking

Then follow these EASY directions...

Toss everything into a baggie.

Shake it up! Cover everything.

I've been shake it up, coating it and letting it sit until the oven preheats!

Spread everything out on a baking sheet.

Make sure you spray it so nothing sticks!

And YUM!

I hope you enjoy!!

We definitely have!

caluiflower poppers

Lately, I've been contemplating the idea of going gluten-free. My only qualm with it is whether or not I will be able to feed a very hungry man enough food when we get married. If you have any tips or suggestions please let me know. Otherwise, for now I'm going to stick to a low-glycemic diet.

However, low-glycemic doesn't mean I can't look for ways to make healthy food yummy too right? I mean, what is more fun that healthy food that comes in the form of unhealthy food? These cauliflower poppers are to die for and wait for it.... it's good for you! Again, this wonderful recipe was found at Delighted Momma.

All you will need is cauliflower, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Let's get real... that's easy! I love it when healthy food is easy! I followed her recipe exactly and it was perfect. You can find it at the link above!

trying something new thursday

Hope you had a great Thursday. We're almost there... one more day!!! This weekend I am going to try something new..

Kale.

After seeing it in Earthfare, hearing about it on Modern Family, watching a coworker eat it frequently, and having my mama tell me about it I've decided to try it. I found a list of the benefits kale has and here are a few:

-Risk-lowering benefits for cancer
-Cholesterol lowering
-Detoxification and digestive benefits

I found this recipe on a blog I read every now and then for baked kale chips. YUM! A healthy snack!



Delighted Momma gives the following directions for baking kale chips!

-Wash and dry Kale
-Remove the stem from the kale
-Rip them into chip sizes
-Spray olive or coconut oil on them
-Sprinkle with sea salt and whatever seasoning you like
-Bake for 15 min at 300 degrees

I am going to try these this weekend and see how they are! I will let you know! Please comment if you have any good recipes for kale!