Moving Over...

So, I haven't posted in about 2 months and I realized I needed to change a few things to make this more do-able for me.  Here's what I did...I created a new blog that will include more than just recipes, but less words :)   Please check it out!
http://practicallyhomemade.blogspot.com/

Rainbow Cake in a Jar

So, I saw this great idea of making Rainbow Cake in a jar.  After looking at the fabulous pictures online, I was so excited to try it.  The picture above is us in the process of making it.  We didn't quite achieve our goal, so that is why there is no after picture :)  I am posting this though, because I still think it's a really good idea.

Here's where I went wrong...I didn't put enough food colouring in or I should have used neon food colouring.  And, more importantly, I overdid the cakes and they ended up just looking brown, instead of all colourful.

Maybe somebody else can give these a try and be successful!

Sweet Potato Carmelized Onion Pizza

Ingredients:

• 1 sweet potato, sliced
• 2 c. kale, chopped
• 1-2 onions, carmelized (a recipe on how to do that here)
• Feta cheese, crumbled
• 1 jar tomato sauce, or 2 c. homemade tomato sauce
• 4 pitas

Directions:

1. Spread tomato sauce evenly on each pita. 
2. Add onions, sweet potatoes, and kale.
3. Top with feta cheese.
4. Bake at 400 degrees about 5 min. or until slightly browned.

Roasted Chickpeas

I've been wanting to try and make roasted chickpeas for a while now and I finally did it.  My kids thoroughly enjoyed them as you can see by the little hands helping me.

Ingredients:

• 2 cans chickpeas, drained
• 1 T cumin
• 1 T chili powder
• 1 t seasoning salt
• 1 T oil

Directions:

1. Drain chickpeas well and toss in oil.
2. Mix in seasoning and spread them out on a large pan.
3. Roast for 30-40 minutes at 450 degrees.  Check on the chickpeas every 10 minutes and stir them.  

Note: Make sure the chickpeas are brown and crispy before taking them out. 

Tostadas

Ingredients:

• Fried tortillas, (directions on how to do that here)
• 1 onion
• 1 T olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 can of black beans
• 2 T taco seasoning
• 2 c lettuce, shredded
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• Optional toppings: cheese, guacamole, sour cream

Directions:

1. Heat oil. Add onion and garlic and fry for several minutes.
2. Add black beans and taco seasoning, and continue frying for about 5-10 minutes.
3. To assemble your tostada, ladle on black beans. Top with lettuce and tomatoes.
4. Add desired toppings.

Quinoa Tabouleh

Ingredients:

• 2 c quinoa, cooked
• 1/2 of a cucumber, diced
• 1 tomato, diced
• 1/2 c green onions, sliced
• 1/2 c cilantro
• 3 T olive oil
• 3 T lemon juice
• salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Cook the quinoa and put it aside to cool.
2. Add the vegetables to the quinoa and stir.
3. Toss is oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. 

You can eat this as a salad, or it is also great with pitas. 

Dirt Cake

We had a special little boy turn 2, and he loves playing in the dirt, so it was very fitting to have dirt cake and worms for his birthday :)

Ingredients:

• 1 box of Oreos
• 2 packages of instant vanilla pudding
• 1 block of cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• Gummy worms

Directions:

1. Put all of the Oreos in a ziploc bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
2. Prepare the pudding according to instructions on the box.
3. In a separate bowl, beat together softened cream cheese and sugar.
4. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding and mix until smooth.
5. Layer the Oreos and the pudding mixture, starting and ending with the Oreos.
6. Top with gummy worms.