Ryan and I are big fans of hummus. It’s the perfect afternoon snack. I’ve made homemade hummus before. But this time I wanted to try something a little different, so I made Edamame hummus. It’s pretty much the same but it is made with Edamame (soy beans) instead of Garbanzo beans. Overall, it was quick to whip up & tasted great!

Ingredients:

1 ½ Cup frozen shelled edamame
¼ Tahini
3 Tablespoons lemon juice (1 lemon)
1 Clove garlic (smashed)
1 Teaspoon of salt
3 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
Pinch of Cumin (optional)
Sugar snap peas, carrots, and/or warm pita bread to serve with.

Directions: Bring small pot of salted water to boil and add the edamame. Let boil 4-5 minutes, then drain & cool. Combine the edamame, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt, olive oil, and cumin in a food processor and puree until smooth. Serve with the suggested ingredients & enjoy!

   Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet is really important to me. One thing I usually do not get enough of is protein. Quinoa [pronounced KEEN-WA] is an excellent source of complete protein [contains all nine essential amino acids], and is also vegan friendly [for you vegans out there]. You can read more about it here.

  I usually cook it in a saucepan following the directions on the label, and then add grilled veggies and seasoning. I’ve also made it before with sautéed peas and onion, which was really good. Serve with a salad and some warm bread for a complete meal!

I’ve heard a lot about Kale Chips, but had never tried them before. I decided to whip up a quick batch yesterday for an afternoon snack. I was surprised at how crunchy and delicious they were! They are a great healthy alternative to potato chips. AND super easy to make too. Needless to say, I think these will be a staple here in the Kirkland household. 

What you’ll need:

1 Bunch of Kale
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper [Or other seasoning… experimenting is fun!]
Parchment Paper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Wash Kale thoroughly. Tear off the leaves from the thick stems. Place on baking sheet covered in parchment paper. Drizzle lightly with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt & pepper. Bake for approximately 10-12 minutes [ovens may vary]. Then sit back and enjoy their crunchy goodness!