Another one. But this time a breakfast recipe. Or a lunch recipe. You decide.
In those parts of the world, where we are blessed or lucky or whatever, with having a full fridge, full cabinets, several shelves here and there with food, some of us might take it for granted. And, if you on top of that add the technological restlessness, as one children's book author (who gave a lecture at my university) so nicely put it, some of us might even finish a meal without having put all the tastebuds to work. Checking our phones for messages, calls, notications - some of which never come, but the technology's got us hooked. I could write an essay about that tho.
Enough food, clean drinking water - these are privileges which should not be taken for granted. And also, I read somewhere that the amount of freshwater in the world is not what they used to be, it's sinking. Fun pun, but no. Sure, there are technologies in place which can transform saltwater to freshwater - but is that sustainable? Summer 2018 in Norway is a great example. It was hot af - for some, mind you. For me, with all my Balkan genes, I would have preferred it a bit warmer. Moving on - the Summer caused a tremendous drought. Hay actually needed to be imported to feed the farm animals. And - back to my point - the public was told that there would be no more watering the lawn whenever you feeled like it.
What? I mean, can you imagine? Norway, one of the richest countries in the world was being told that lawns belonging to even-numbered addresses could be watered on only these and these days. I mean, whaaat?
It was huge. It was the main topic in most of the conversations I had that Summer. But I had a counter argument. You see, as I'm was born in the Balkans, visiting my grandparents almost every Summer, I got to learn bits and pieces of my heritage, and of the current situation. During the Summer, not all floors in all tall buildings get water. They then have to go get the water somewhere else. This does not regard hotels, government buildings etc tho. But here in Norway, we were being told that we couldn't water our lawns whenever we felt like it.
I read somewhere - well, actually several places - that expressing gratitude for what you have is beneficial for you. If you're grateful for what you have, more will come. If you take stuff for granted, less will come. I know this, I have seen this. You do not want this.
So be grateful. Explore your kitchen. If you are at the liberty to do so, buy some foods you have never tasted, and try some awesome, healthy recipes. Something new. And, maybe most importantly - give. Don't give to receive. But give to give. Give for the sole purpose of giving. This too will come back to you. But only if your intentions are pure. A shitstorm will come your way if your intentions are not pure. Share your food with your neighbours. Invite some friends over. Schedule a Skype-dinner. Leave some tupperware filled with a home cooked meal outside your friends' or neighbours' door. I mean, why not?
I explored the internet the other day, found a few new recipes and combined them into something new. It turned out amazing.
Servings: 4
Time: about 20 min
Ingredients
1 can of chickpeas (about 200 g when soaked)
1 tsp tandoori masala
1 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp chili (either fresh or powder)
1-2 tbsp water
1 small tomato, finely chopped
5-10 cm cucumber (yes, I used that kind of measurement)
1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
juice of 1/2 lemon
salt
pepper
2 tbsp No-Cheese (see recipe below)
spinach leaves
pumpkin seeds
4 tortilla wraps
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix the spices, chickpeas and cooking oil together. Fry the chickpeas for 10 min in a small pan. Be aware of the popping chickpeas. Then, set aside to cool down
- In another bowl, mix the vegetables and season with lemon juice, salt and pepper. Set aside
- Mash the chickpeas using a fork. Add the water. Then, add the vegetables
- In the same pan used to fry the chickpeas, heat up the tortillas. Either on low heat or no heat (#sparetheelectricity and less washing up to do)
- Spread the No-Cheese on a tortilla, add some spinach leaves, the chickpea mix and some pumpkin seeds
Tips, Tricks etc
- Add or remove some spices. The same goes for the vegetables. Make your own kind of chickpea batter. Explore the world of the chickpeas
- Spread some hummus on the tortilla instead of No-Cheese
- Use salad, arugula, kale etc - instead of spinach leaves
- Add more seeds. Or no seeds. Make use of your imagination
Enjoy.
Did you know?
Chickpeas contain both iron, fiber and proteins, among other nutrients. Allthough in moderate amounts, they make a beautiful rice swap when you wanna take your tastebuds for a ride. But they need spices tho
Hummus is made from chickpeas. You only need to add lemon juice, tahini, water, a pinch of salt - and baam, you've got hummus
Chili is awesome for cleansing the sinuses. Eating that spicy food makes your nose run faster than Usain Bolt. Chili has other healthy benefits as well, but this one was the funniest I came up with
No-Cheese
(and no picture yet. But will be updated the next time I'm making this)
Servings: about 1/2 l
Time: about 30 min (+ 3-4 hours of soaking the cashew nuts)
Ingredients
2 cups cashew nuts
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
3 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp smoked paprika powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp turmeric
2 tsp salt
1/2 cup
3 cups water
Instructions
- Boil enough water to completely cover the cashew nuts. Soak the nuts for 3-4 hours beneath a lid
- Drain the water, toss the cashew nuts in a food processer along with the lemon juice and spices. Run it for a few minutes, or until the cashew nuts are more or less finely chopped, and then gradually adding the water
- In a medium-sized pan on medium heat, whisk the No-Cheese for about 10-15 min. The No-Cheese will firm up
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1-2 weeks. Max
Enjoy.
Did you know?
Nutritional yeast is packed with nutrients, such as proteins, fiber, B-vitamins, calsium, iron, potassium. Plus, it smells and tastes like the cheesy topping you can pour over your cinema popcorn
When you wake up, express gratitude. Before you go to sleep, express graditude. Be grateful.