Spicy Roasted Chickpeas

Being a vegetarian it's hard to get enough protein. And i'm always looking for a healthy snack. You know when your just craving that salty crunchy goodness, but don't want to regret it latter. These roasted chickpeas are perfect for those moments!
Ingredients:
1 can of rinsed chickpeas
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/8 - 1/4 Tsp salt (to taste)
Fresh cracked black pepper
1/4 Cayenne pepper (more or less depending on how spicy you want)
1/4 Tsp garlic powder
1/4 Tsp onion powder
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper(this allows for much easier cleanup),
3. Drain and rise the chickpeas, lay out onto a dish rag. Make sure they are bone dry
4. Pour onto baking sheet, drizzil on oil, then top will all the other ingredients, Remember you can replace, reduce or add more of any ingredients to suite your taste buds.
5. Using clean hands toss the chickpeas in the oil and spices, till evenly coated
6. Bake for 40-55 minutes, until crunchy and golden brown
7. Let cool, and store in an air tight container for up to a week

Organic Granola

I don't know about ya'll but I LOVE granola, but for some reason it is so expensive. I tried out a few recipes and combined my favorite parts of both. This final recipe is my favorite granola I've ever had. AND it relatively cheap to make, and stores for up to 3 weeks.
Ingredients;

3 cups Oats

2 Tbsp Vegetable Oil

1/3 cup Clover Honey

1/4 Tsp Sea/Kosher Salt

1/3 cup Chopped Almonds

1/3 cup Unsweetend Cocoanut Flakes

1/4 cup Sunflower seeds

Directions;

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl

Separate onto 2 cookie sheets, flatten until 1/4 or 1/2 inch thick.

Bake for 25-30 minutes

Let cool, then store in air tight container (I stored it in a mason jar and it lasted for 3 weeks)

Homemade Organic Fruit Roll-Ups

During spring and summer I always crave fruit. I had some peaches laying around that too ripe. Trying to figure out what to due with them I decided to make fruit roll-ups/ fruit leather. Often when I bake I don't really know what i'm making or planing to do, I just figure it out as i go. I did this when making these. This method has gotten me in trouble from time to time, but thankfully it worked out this time. I failed to take many pictures with this recipe, because I was crunched for time, but I think you will be able to figure out what i'm saying, this recipe is fairly simple.
Ingredients:
1. 5 Cups of fruit- use what ever types of fruit you like in this recipe i used 3 peaches(skinned), and a mango. Use whatever your in the mood for.
2. 3 TBSP sugar- more or less depending on your taste
3. 1-3 TBSP juice,water, or other liquids - amount of liquid needed will depend on how jucie the fruit you use
Directions:
1. Chop the fruit into 1 or 2 inch pieces
2. Add all of the ingredients into a medium or large saucepan, stir using a wooden spoon
3. Let the fruit simmer, the time needed will depend on the type/firmness of the fruits used. take off heat one the fruit is very soft, almost mushy
4. The next step is to smooth the fruit, if you want a smoother roll-up use a food processor to blend fruit, if you want a more thick roll up with pieces of fruit in it use a fork or a potato masher.
5. Using a mesh strainer, drain out excess liquid
6. Spread fruit mixture onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet, spread a 1/4 inch thick.
7. Bake at 400F for 30-40 minutes, check to make sure the fruit is no longer mushy, once that has happened its done!
8. Let the fruit cool, cut into strips, roll, and enjoy!




It is about half way done
at this point.



-The output depends on how large you cut the strips and other factors (I got about 8 out of mine)


It's done!

-Store for up to a week

Sweets: Brownie Cookies

Brownies are always tasty, I don't think i've ever met anyone that doesn't like them. Now i found a way to transfer that amazing chocolatiness into cookie form! What could be better? This recipe is so easy, it's unreal. AND it takes about a quarter of the time to bake! (this recipe is not mine, I found it on the Hershey's brownie mix box, but i twiked it a bit). These cookies are on the thinner side, i you like thicker ones, use less liquid
Ingredients:
1 Package of brownie mix
2 Eggs
2 Tbsp Olive oil
3/4 Tsp Vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Whisk together in a medium bowl, eggs, Olive oil, Vanilla
3. Mix the brownie mix into the liquid ingredients, stir until combined, it usually looks kind of runny, but don't worry it will thicken up while baking
4. Grease baking sheets well, these cookies tend to stick easier than other cookies i've baked
5. Scoop the dough onto the pan, place 2-3 inches apart
6. Bake for 9-14 minutes
7. This step is VERY IMPORTANT! remove the cookies from the pan while there still hot! Dont stack them until their cool, I usually place them on a sheet of parchment paper

Makes 30 cookies

Food: Double Chocolate Cupcakes

 I made these cupcakes for my mother for mothers day, and they are delicious. 

The cupcakes are made without eggs or butter so they are a bit more healthy than traditional cupcakes. But the Frosting does have butter and milk in it. I got the cupcake recipe from site, and tweaked it a bit. This is where the recipe is from; http://www.yummytummyaarthi.com/2012/05/eggless-moist-chocolate-cake-no-butter.html.

   Ingredients for Cupcakes;

2 cups All Purpose Flour

3/4 cup Vegetable Oil

1 1/4 cups Water

1 1/2 cups Sugar

1/2 cup  Unsweetened Cocoa 

2 TSP Baking Soda 

1 TSP Vanilla Extract 

1/4 TSP Salt 

   Cupcake Directions;

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Sift Flour, Cocoa, Baking Soda, and Salt. Mix the Water, Oil and Vanilla in a bowl. Stir in Sugar gradually until fully dissolved.

Add in the Flour mixture, stir until well combined, its okay if there are a few lumps they will bake out. Separate into cupcake tins. Bake for 20 minutes.

Let cool, then frost. 

Frosting Ingredients;

1 Pound of Milk Chocolate Chips

2 Sticks of Butter(at room temp.)

6 Cups of Powdered Sugar

6 TBSP Milk

2 TSP Vanilla Extract 

Frosting Directions 

Place chocolate chips in a double bowler, stir continually. Take off heat once the chips are completely melted, make sure not to burn the chocolate. 

Set aside for latter. 

Put the sugar, butter, milk and vanilla in a bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat until smooth. 

Make sure the chocolate is completely cool. Then stir into the frosting a bit at a time. I would refrigerate for an hour before use, Piping the icing, I iced 24 cupcakes, and had leftover.