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Telling someone that you are a vegetarian guarantees that you will be asked the following questions: a) Do you eat fish? and b) How do you get enough protein? If you're like me, you field the second question with a ribald joke of an answer that will make everyone around you blush awkwardly and be forever unable to look your husband in the eye.
Speaking of awkward, remember that Friends episode that guest-starred Noah Wyle and George Clooney? The argumentative conversation between Monica and Rachel made the guys feel awkward and uncomfortable, and to change the subject, they complimented the hummus. "God bless the chickpea!" says the George Clooney character, and although that episode aired many years ago when I had a Rachel haircut myself, I think of that line every time I make hummus, which is often.
God bless the chickpea, indeed. Awkward jokes aside, I get a great deal of protein in my diet from beans and legumes. The chickpea, that versatile little legume, is a nutritional powerhouse—one cup contains 11 grams of protein, 10 grams of fibre, and 25% of the recommended daily intake of iron.
This hummus, therefore, is not only a brilliant source of protein and other nutrients, but it is also delicious, with an extra zip of flavour from the roasted red pepper. I add tofu to make it extra creamy, but if you are not a fan of tofu, Greek yogurt works well too, and they are both great sources of protein. No joking around—this is a protein-packed snack.
Ingredients:
On a baking sheet, place red pepper under the broiler for 5-7 minutes, turning often, until skin is charred and black. Place blackened pepper in a bowl and cover tightly. When cooled, rub skin off with a paper towel, and slice into quarters, discarding seeds and stem. *Short-cut: skip this step and use a jarred roasted red pepper instead.*
In a food processor, whirl together roasted red pepper slices, rinsed and drained chickpeas, tofu or Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and tahini. Process until very smooth.
Add pepper and salt to taste.
Serve with pitas, chips, crackers, crudites, or as a sandwich spread. Top with extra chopped red pepper, if desired.
This hummus goes great with pita and my Ode to Joy Greek Salad. Don't want to buy a whole jar of tahini for just one recipe? Never fear, use it up by making Maple Coconut Tahini Treats or my Roasted Vegetable and Rice Salad.
There are just so many reasons to love avocado; besides their creamy texture and delectable taste, they are nutrient-packed superstars. Avocados are rich in Omega-3s, amino acids, carotenoids, and antioxidants. They have anti-inflammatory properties, and their fatty acids work to give you beautiful skin and shiny hair. If I could sew, I would make little superhero capes for all the avocados in the world to celebrate their superfood status.
Vegan Peppermint Almond Cookies
Did I mention their creamy texture and delectable taste? That silky flesh is just perfect for creamy sauces and spreads. I use avocados often in savoury dishes, but did you know that they are a wonderful base for many sweet desserts, as well? These individual avocado key lime pies are sweet and creamy, and eating them may just give you the beautiful skin and shiny hair you've always dreamed of! Delicious AND good for you? I cannot think of more compelling reasons to indulge in a dessert.
Ingredients
Halve avocados, scoop avocado flesh from the skin, and place in food processor along with lime juice and honey. Process until very smooth and creamy.
Mix together graham cracker crumbs and melted coconut oil. Press 1-2 teaspoons of the mixture into individual (125 mL) mason jars, or, if you prefer, press entire mixture onto the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan.
Pour avocado-lime mixture evenly over top the graham cracker crust, dividing evenly among mason jars if using. Cover and freeze until firm, 2-3 hours.
Serve frozen, topped with coconut whipped cream.
(Yield: 12 servings)
Want more amazing avocado dishes? Try my Creamy Avocado Linguine, my Dill-icious Pasta Salad, and my Green Goddess Bowl of Goodness. Super shiny hair, here we come!
Adapted from Eating Bird Food
Juicing is the latest trend in healthful living, and it really is a delicious way to pack in all those nutrients from fruits and veggies.
Newegg At Home sent me a Fagor Slow Juicer to try out and one to give away. In the following video I'm going to show you how easy it is to use, and tell you all about the amazing benefits of slow juicing. I'm also going to show you how to make a delicious and nutrient-packed Green Goddess juice that will make you feel beautiful from the inside out.
Watch this video to learn about the benefits of slow juicing:
Green Goddess Juice
Ingredients:
YMC and Newegg.ca want to give you the chance to win a Fagor Slow Juicer!
Watch the video above and list two benefits to slow juicing in the comments below to be entered to win.
You have to be a YMC member and you have until May 19th, 2014 to enter. Please be sure you've registered your email address in our commenting system so we can contact you if you're a potential winner.
This is proudly sponsored by our friends at Newegg.ca.
www.newegg.ca
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