Quick Tip: Cleaning With Citrus

Have you ever had fruit sitting in the bowl...too gone for anyone to want to eat- but not yet rotting so you can't throw it out? Here's something you can do to use up lemons & grapefruits that are slightly past their prime.

Cut your fruit in half- dip the cut side in some salt...and scub-a-dub your tub and shower walls clean! Easy peasy! Dip in more salt as needed.

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Weight Loss Wednesday: 2 and a Recipe

Whew, 2 more down! A total of 10 lost these past few weeks. Slow & steady...niiiice & slow....
Trying to eat small snack-meals throughout the day, rather than just not eating b/c I'm not hungry enough to eat a meal- supposedly it will keep you metabolism going. Keeping the fridge stocked with ready-to-eat munchies, pre-cut all my veggies, stocked up on yogurt for a calcium kick. I also keep hummus handy, and been trying to eat 1-3 apples a day. Fiber is my friend!
I did great better with the water this week- THANKS LADIES! <3 I kept extra water around me at all times. Glub glub glub!


I also wanted to share a "healthy"/"dieting" recipe with you guys today. Hummus. Hummus is a great & fiber-filled alternative to other more fattening & nutrient-less dips. The chickpeas in it provide plenty of fiber & vitamins, garlic has great health benefits, and the olive oil contains heart healthy monounsaturated fats. BUT- the price of tahini- a sesame paste that is used in humus is astrofreakinnomical. Many people substitute peanut butter for the tahini to save on cost. Well I think hummus that tastes like peanuts tastes like horsepucky, and my youngest is allergic to peanuts- & she's my little snacking buddy. So, I experimented with a variety of pantry items to get a better-tasting-cheap hummus. Enjoy.

Better Tasting Cheapy Hummus: (peanut-free)

In your food-processor, pulse until mashed:

• 1 can of chickpeas/garbanzo beans or the equivalent of home-cooked (about 2 cups.)
• about 3 cloves of minced garlic
• 2 hefty pinches of salt
• 1/4 cup lemon juice

Add & pulse until combined:

• 1/4 cup olive oil (you will add more later as needed...)
• about 2 Tablespoons of sunflower seed spread (sometimes called sunflower seed butter- you can usually find it with the other nut butters or in a healthfood store...)
• 1/2 Tablespoon sesame oil (found with the Asian foods, or in a healthfood store.)

While running on low, drizzle olive oil through the chute until the proper/preferred consistency is reached. (Click pics to make bigger/see texture...)

A serving of hummus is about 1/4 cup. I store mine in 1/2 cup containers in the fridge because there is usually always people who want to share it. =-)

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Meatless Monday: Chickpea Coconut Curry

First of all, let me just say sorry so late in the evening... serious DRAMALLAMAS causing commotion at my house today. =-)





Next, let me just say- chickpeas are awesome. Plus their alias is fun to say. GARBANZO BEANS! Seriously, how fun is that!?






Ok, either begin with a can of chickpeas/garbanzo beans, or have your own cooked up from dried, about 2 cups.






You'll also want to medium-dice 2 potatoes and get them par-boiling while you sweat up the rest of the ingredients.





In 2 Tablespoons of olive oil, get going an onion (roughly chopped) 2 carrots (roughly chopped) and 2-5 cloves of garlic (minced.)

If your potatoes are half-done, drain them and add to the pot. Add 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric and stir. Adding the turmeric now makes the potatoes all pretty!

Add 1 can of coconut milk. (I like to use "lite".) Also add your chickpeas. Simmer on low until everything is soft, happy, and harmonious. You may add a spoonful of water as needed if it starts getting too thick or burning before soft.

ETA- Serve with rice! =-)

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