Tomato & Chickpea Soup

Today I’m sharing literally the easiest recipe ever with you all! This is my go to meal when I have no time at all and still want to eat healthy. This keeps me on track with my health and wellness goals. My yummy Tomato & Chickpea Soup is so delicious and filling.

I also love how easy it is to whip up for work. If I’m unsure as to what to bring with me, this recipe is great. It takes very little time to make and it’s packed with nutritious ingredients to fuel me for a long shift ahead. It’s also great as a meal prep option for go to dinners after work. It’s easy to store in a container and reheated for a quick dinner option.

I like adding chickpeas to my tomato soup to bulk it up a little and make the meal more filling and satisfying. Chickpeas are a powder house of protein too! They pack in at 14.5 g of protein and 12.5 g of fiber in just one cup of chickpeas! They also contain magnesium, iron, calcium and potassium. I feel so good about adding them to my meals for all the added health benefits.

I don’t add any oil to my meals in order to reduce the over all calories content. Just one tablespoon of oil is an added 120 calories. I don’t feel good about adding empty calories into my meals. Most people will add way more than one tablespoon of oil to meals. That’s a lot of extra unnecessary calories! It won’t add any added flavour to the meal. I feel like people put in their heads that they need it for flavour. In reality you really won’t miss it! You can add extra flavour with oil free broth, bouillon, herbs and other seasonings. Skip the oil to save on calories!

I hope you enjoy my easy recipe. Please tag me on IG @ VeganMommyDee if you decide to make it. I hope it helps you on busy days when you don’t have time to cook a complicated recipe. This recipe takes very little time and it’s absolutely delicious. I will also add the recipe video below for those of you who enjoy watching me make my easy recipes. If you haven’t already Subscribed to my YouTube channel, then please consider doing so now. I have loads of easy to make recipe videos on my channel. Thanks for the support and love! I appreciate each and every one of you!


Tomato & Chickpea Soup

Ingredients:

⁃ 796 ml can of fire roasted tomorrow

⁃ 796 ml can of whole peeled tomatoes

⁃ 398 ml can of chickpeas, rinsed

⁃ 398 ml of water or oil free veggie broth

Seasonings:

⁃ 1 Tbsp. Garlic Powder

⁃ 1 tsp. Onion Powder

⁃ 1 Tbsp. Dry Oregano

⁃ Sprinkle of Black pepper

⁃ Sprinkle of Umami mushroom seasoning

⁃ 1 Tbsp. of Basil, fresh or dry

⁃ 1 tsp. Oil free Veggie Bouillon (Optional)

Method:

1. Add the tomatoes, water and seasonings to a soup pot.

2. Use a potato masher to chop the whole tomatoes a little. You can also just buy chopped tomatoes in a can and skip this step all together.

3. Allow to cook on a medium heat for 15-20 minutes with the lid on.

4. Add the chickpeas to the soup and mix well. Cook for another 5 minutes with the lid off.

5. I add a little Himalayan pink salt when serving the soup.

Enjoy! 💚

Healthy Carrot Pulp Loaf

Have you ever thought to yourself “what a waste” after discarding your juicing pulp? I kept thinking that every time I tossed my pulp in the compost bin after juicing. I juice almost everyday so that’s a fair bit of pulp! I wanted to figure out some ways of using up that pulp. I’ve made a few things that worked fantastic and a few that were total flops. Somethings are a work in progress and that’s fine with me. Eventually I’ll get it right and I feel like I’m learning a lot throughout the process.

I wanted to share my healthy carrot pulp loaf with you all in hopes that you find it useful. I tried making this loaf a few times in different ways just to test out what worked better. We love to top a slice of this yummy loaf with some butter and gobble it up! You can totally make muffins with my recipe too if you prefer. I make muffins often and add some vegan mini chocolate chips to them. I use my ceramic muffin tin and that way I done have to use the paper muffin cups! I’m happy because it’s great for the environment, saves me money and saves my muffins from ending up into a crumbly mess. I bake mine for about 18 minutes but as every oven may vary a bit keep an eye on them. You may need to increase or decrease the time depending on your oven.

Now if only I could find a good ceramic loaf pan! I’m on the hunt for one. Let me know if you’ve bought one and what brand it is below in the comments. Thanks!

My followers across my social media showed interest in my recipe but I was still recipe testing. After trying it a few times and adding new ingredients to my loaf I’m finally happy with the outcome. So as promised, here is the recipe below. Enjoy!

For those of you that don’t juice don’t fret because you can totally make this recipe with grated carrots! Now go rock this recipe! Tag me in pictures of your awesome loaf or muffins. 😀

Things you will need

*Large mixing bowls

* 1 wooden spoon (or use your favourite baking spoon)

* 1 loaf pan (use whatever size you prefer for bigger or smaller slices) I prefer a smaller loaf pan myself

* Set of measuring cups and spoons

* Fork

Dry Ingredients

Cups flour of choice (I use brown rice flour a lot)

* 3/4 cup coconut sugar

* 1 1/2 tsp baking soda

* 1 1/2 tsp baking powder

* 1/3 cup hemp hearts

* 1/2 cup GF Oats

* 2 tbsp chia seeds

* 1 tbsp cinnamon

* 4 tbsp flax meal in order to make 4 Flax Eggs

* Pinch of salt

Wet Ingredients

*3/4 cup non dairy milk ( I like using almond or coconut milk)

* 1 large banana (mashed)

* 1 1/2 packed cups of carrot pulp from your juicer

* 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce

* 1/4 cup coconut oil

* 12 tbsp of water to add to the flax meal

  • Walnuts for topping (Optional)
  • To make 1 Flax Egg mix 1 tbsp flax meal with 3 tbsp of water and mix well. Allow to thicken for 3-5 minutes. In order to make this loaf you will need 4 flax eggs.

1. Preheat your oven to 375 F

2. Add your ground flax to a small bowl with water. Mix well and allow to sit for 3-5 minutes. The mixture will thicken up so you can use as an egg replacement.

3. Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.

4. Add all the wet ingredients to another large bowl and combine well

5. Add the flax eggs into the wet mixture and mix well using a fork

6. Transfer the wet ingredients into the dry and combine well

7. Line loaf pan with parchment paper

8. Add the mixture into the loaf pan and even it all out. Top with walnuts if your using them

9. Pop them into the oven and bake for 60 minutes

10. Check if your loaf is done by inserting a wooden scuwer into it or a tooth pick

11. Remove from oven and allow to completely cool before trying to slice it.

Note:

  • Cooking time may vary depending on the oven. Check your loaf at the 50 minute mark and decide if it needs more time like mine does.
  • If you feel like the top of your loaf is browning up too much then just cover it with foil and continue to bake it. I try avoiding foil and enjoy nicely toasted walnuts on top of my loaf. I’ve also moved my oven rack to a lower position which is a great alternative if I feel I need to.
  • I actually add more cinnamon to my loaf because I absolutely love the way it makes baked goods taste. I also think it helps add great flavour without adding more sugar to recipes.
  • I feel that 3/4 cup of coconut sugar is enough to sweeten this loaf but if your preference is sweeter loafs or desserts then I would say add more sugar to the recipe as desired.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family and I do!<

Baby Food Mania

Now that my vegan son is 7 months old I’m making a lot of homemade baby food. It’s healthy and full of nutrients unlike the store bought stuff sold out there. I feed my son REAL food. In my opinion the store bought jarred stuff isn’t quality food. If its able to sit on a shelf in a store for extended periods of time then its pumped with unpronounceable things I will not let my son ingest.

It’s incredibly easy to make homemade baby food. I just use what I have on hand and make sure I’m offering him a variety of yummy options. I usually bake his veggies like squash and boil or steam things like green beans. Steaming is better than boiling them in order to preserve more nutrients but when I’m in a rush I’ll boil them because its faster. I reserve some of the cooking water in case I need it when I’m blending it all up. When serving my baby his goodies I add some of his milk to his puree because he likes the added creaminess it provides.

So far my little man has tried peas, green beans, pumpkin, acorn squash, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, blueberries, raspberries, pineapple, avocado, beets, mango, cherries, carrots, sweet potato, apples and bananas. I’m sure I missed some but you get the picture. He has eaten quite a variety of fruits and veggies along with his brown rice cereal, oatmeal cereal, hemp hearts, chia seeds and coconut yogurt.

His favouite foods are pumpkin and sweet potato. I swear I can feed him pumpkin everyday and he would happily eat it up! I’ll post some of his favourite dishes below which are super easy to make. Even if your busy running around you can still manage to throw these together. The best part is once you make puree the veggies and fruit you can freeze the mixture in ice cube trays and store them in freezer bags for future use with only a few exceptions like avocado. Eat that right away! I love this idea because when I’m on the go I’ll pop a few cubes of different purees into travel containers and they defrost while I’m out doing errands. That way my vegan baby can eat healthy on the go. I just take them out 1st thing in the morning that way they have plenty of time to defrost. I also bring hemp hearts in a container with me to add to his food for extra nutrition and he loves the added taste from them.

What are some of your babies favourite foods? Let me know if you have a special way of preparing it below in the comment section. 🙂

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Banana & Avocado puree

Ingredients & Tools

  1. 1 Banana
  2. 1 Avocado
  3. Blender/Food Processer

How simple can this get right? It’s the simple things they will eat up though every time!

Method

  • Just peel a banana and scoop out the flesh of an avocado and toss them into your blender or food presser.
  • Transfer to a bowl and add breast milk or formula to the mixture for added creaminess if desired.
  • Feed this mixture to your little one right away as the avocado in it will start to go brown.

*Note*

Top the mixture with Hemp Hearts if desired.

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Baked Acorn Squash Puree

Ingredients & Tools

  1. 1 Acorn Squash
  2. 1 Baking dish
  3. Blender/Food Presser
  4. Optional: Cinnamon or Pumpkin Spice

Method

  • Preheat oven to 350 F
  • Prepare a baking dish with about an inch of water in it. Add more later if needed during the baking process
  • Cut you acorn squash in half
  • Sprinkle with a touch of Pumpkin Spice or Pure Cinnamon if desired
  • Place flesh side down into the baking dish
  • Bake for 35 – 45 minutes depending on the size of your squash
  • Allow to cool and then scoop out the squash flesh into the blender or food processer
  • Transfer mixture to an air tight container. I like placing it into glass containers or mason jars.

* Note*

I also like adding hemp hearts to the squash mixture when serving it to my son. He loves the added flavour and texture it adds to his meal. You can also add dash of breast milk or formula to it in order to make it a little creamier.

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Chia Pineapple, Mango, Beet & Banana Puree

Ingredients

  1. 2 Bananas
  2. 1/3 Cup Pineapple
  3. 1 small to medium sized cooked Beet
  4. 1/3 cup Mango
  5. 1 tbsp. Chia Seeds

Method

  • Add fruit and the beet to the blender and puree
  • Place in an air tight container or mason jar and add the chia seeds. Combine well.
  • Store in the fridge for up to 5 days

*Note*

My son loves to eat this mixture with a spoonful of unsweetened coconut yogurt with this mixture. Give it a try if your baby enjoys yogurt too.

Hope your baby enjoys this healthy grub! Even my 12 year old will ask me if he’s done with his food. She’s the clean up crew who wants to eat up all his yummy leftovers! Ha Ha!

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Crispy Chickpeas!

chickpeas

Here is a super easy snack recipe that you can make anytime. It’s a protein rich snack which will also keep you full and satisfied. I currently have a chickpea obsession and have been adding them to so many dishes. I love them in my green salads as well as my pasta salads.

If you want a yummy snack on the go then these crispy chickpeas are awesome. You can add whever seasonings you like best and play around with the flavours you enjoy best. They can be stored in mason jars which is great for healthy snacking on the go! I even bring these to my childrens swim class. The kids enjoy them which makes me super happy. Let me know what seasoning combinations worked well for you in the comments below. Happy Healthy Snacking!

 

Ingredients:

  • 2 cans of chickpeas
  • 3-4 tbsp. of olive oil
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. chili powder
  • 2 tsp.Himalayan salt
  • 1/2 tsp. black  pepper

 

Things you will need:

  • 2 cookie trays
  • Parchment paper
  • Paper towel or a dry dish cloth
  • 2 medium sized bowls

 

Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 F
  2. Line your cookie trays with parchment paper and set aside
  3. Open your cans of chickpeas, drain and rinse them
  4. Pat dry the chickpeas well
  5. Transfer chickpeas to a bowl
  6. Add 3-4 tbsp. of olive oil and salt to the chickpeas and toss well
  7. Divide the chickpeas and add them to the cookie trays
  8. Bake for 35 minutes, making sure to give them a mix a few times during the baking process
  9. After removing them from the oven place them into a bowl with all your seasonings and toss well
  10. Transfer to mason jars or containers

 

Note:

  • Baking time may vary so keep an eye on them in the last 10 minutes.
  • As far as seasonings go you can add whatever you prefer or have on hand.
  • You can use less olive oil if you prefer but your chickpeas may not be as crunchy
  • These can store well for a week in your mason jars

Other Seasoning Suggestions:

  • Lemon Pepper seasoning & Himalayan salt
  • Habanero pepper salt & chili powder
  • Cinnamon, cane sugar or coconut sugar and using coconut oil instead of the olive oil

 

chickpea2.png

 

Happy Munching! Enjoy! 🙂

 

 

 

Smoothie Bowl Breakfast

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Life is busy but there is always time to whip up a yummy smoothie bowl! All you need is fruit, milk, and healthy toppings. Super easy. I just add whatever frozen fruit I have in my freezer. We always have frozen bananas and blueberries so those appear in my smoothie bowls quite often. I also always add Spirulina to my smoothies as well for added health benefits.

 Just blend or process them with a splash of non dairy milk and you have an instant nutritious breakfast. As far as toppings go my favourites are pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, sliced almonds, homemade granola, shredded coconut, hemp hearts and fresh sliced fruit. If your on the go with your smoothie then pop it into a mason jar with your toppings for easy travel!

 There isn’t really a “recipe” for this but since people keep asking me what I put in my smoothies I said I’d post a couple for them to reference. The great thing about a smoothie is that you don’t need a recipe to dictate what you should or shouldn’t put in it. You just throw in what you enjoy and add the ingredients you have at home hiding in the freezer.

 Have fun experimenting with your yummy fruit choices and playing around with different toppings!

 

Blueberry Bliss Smoothie Bowl

  • 2 cups organic blueberries
  • 1 frozen organic banana
  • 1 Tbsp. Spirulina
  • Splash of unsweetened non dairy milk (my favourites are almond or coconut)

Blend or process ingredients. Pour it in your favouite bowl and add your awesome healthy toppings! Below are my suggestions. It can’t get any easier than that right?!

  • 1/4 – 1/3 cup Pumpkin seeds
  • 1 tsp. of chia seeds
  • 1 Tbsp. of Sliced almonds

  

Tropical Goodness Smoothie

  • 1  organic frozen banana
  • 2 cups pre packaged frozen pineapple, mango & coconut blend from your grocery store
  • 1 Tbsp. Spirulina

Blend all the ingredients up and top with your desired toppings.

Suggested toppings:

  • 1 Tbsp. of Hemp hearts
  • 1 Tbsp. shredded coconut
  • Sprinkle of homemade granola
  • Banana slices

 

Enjoy your breakfast smoothie bowls! Your body will thank you for the healthy fuel you are giving it! 💕

~Debbie~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Bean Lettuce Wraps

I tend to eat lettuce wraps a lot! Why??? They are so easy to throw together super fast and most importantly they are incredibly healthy! See fast food CAN be healthy!!! I like to use black beans because they are my favourite bean but you can use what ever bean you prefer. The picture below is of a super plain wrap because that bean mixture was made for my 9-year-old who wanted just beans & hemp hearts. I like to add bell peppers, shredded carrot and sprouts if I have them on hand to my wraps. The beauty of these wraps is that you can pretty much use any veggie you have on hand or that needs to be used asap in them. Another bonus of lettuce wraps is that they are kinder to your waistline compared to wolfing down a bunch of tortilla wraps. Go ahead and wolf these down though because they are delicious and healthy … no guilt required! 🙂

 

Simple Black Bean Lettuce Wraps

Simple Black Bean Lettuce Wraps

 

 

Black Bean Lettuce wraps

You will need:

  • 1 can of black beans
  • garlic
  • apple cider vinegar
  • hemp hearts
  • salt & pepper , I use Himalayan pink salt
  • parsley
  • lettuce of your choice, *Boston/butterhead lettuce is a great choice because it holds the bean mixture well. I’m inserting a picture I found of Boston Lettuce in case your not familiar with this type of lettuce.*

Boston Lettuce

Boston Lettuce

 

 

Bean mixture:

  • 1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed really well
  • 3-4 cloves of garlic, minced
  • Salt & Pepper, to taste
  • 2 TBSP hemp hearts
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1/3 cup fresh torn up parsley
  • 2-3 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar
  • Veggie/veggies of choice, I usually cut up 1 large bell pepper and grate 1/3 cup carrot

Add all ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl. The longer you let these ingredients sit the better your bean mixture will taste! I sometimes make it the night before and keep it in the fridge.

 

Method:

  1. Pre wash & dry your lettuce leaves. Make sure they are nice and dry!
  2. Add your bean mixture to the lettuce. If you’re using the Boston lettuce it acts like a cup so it’s really easy to fill up.
  3. Top with more hemp hearts
  4. Eat them all up!!! Without any guilt I might add! 🙂

 

NOTE: I also sometimes add some brown rice or quinoa to my wraps which makes them a little more filling when I’m enjoying them for dinner. Give it a try! You will love this addition!

 

Enjoy!

Banana Blueberry Oat Cookies!

Healthy Banana Blueberry Oat Cookies!

Healthy Banana Blueberry Oat Cookies!

 

My recipe for Banana Blueberry Oat Cookies only has 4 ingredients in them …yes only 4! I want to be able to enjoy a cookie or treat without all the guilt associated with it, which is one of the reasons why I like to come up with my own recipes. The other reason is I strive to eat healthy on a daily basis. I want to be able to eat a cookie that only contains a few ingredients not chemical sugar loaded junk that’s found on super market shelves! These cookies have no added sugar in them! The bananas add enough sweetness so I don’t add any extra sugar to them. I’ve been trying to stick to sugar free snacks now and I’ve also been experimenting with stevia as an alternative. I’m also on a fitness quest so it’s important to for me to not set myself backwards by eating unhealthy treats. These simple cookies are so easy to take on the go too which is super handy when the hunger bug hits ya and all you have around you is junk food/fast food. They are very helpful to me when my daughter is at glee club and dinner time is approaching. All they have in the community center are vending machines full of junk! Tempting at times but no thanks I’ll just enjoy a healthy banana blueberry oat cookie instead! 🙂

 

Banana Blueberry Oat Cookies 

 

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup gluten free old fashion rolled oats (I use Bob’s Red Mill organic brand)
  • 2 organic mashed banana
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon, or to taste
  • 1/3 cup blueberries

 

Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 325 F
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
  3. Mash the two bananas in a medium sized bowl
  4. Add the oats and cinnamon. Combine really well.
  5. With a spoon scoop out the mixture and place on the baking sheet to make your cookies. Make them whatever size you prefer and top each cookie with desired amount of blueberries.

Note:

*  You can also gently add the blueberries into the mixture before you scoop it out to make your cookies. I don’t prefer to however because I think they look pretty topped with the blueberries and I don’t risk breaking them in the batter. *

* These quantities made 9 cookies for me*

 

Enjoy! 😀

 

Blueberry Protein Smoothie

Blueberry Protein Smoothie!

Blueberry Protein Smoothie!

 

 

Blueberry Protein Smoothie

  • 2 cups blueberries (I use frozen most of the time)
  • 1 cup chopped cantaloupe
  • 1 scoop vegan vanilla protein powder
  • 1 cup lettuce of choice
  • 2 large peaches, chopped up
  • 2 cups cold filtered water
  • 1/3 cup chopped parsley (optional)
  • Ice (optional)

 

Add the lettuce, blueberries, peach, parsley (if you’re using it), protein powder, cantaloupe and water to a blender. Blend well to desired consistency. Adjust water if you think you need to add a bit more. Add in some ice if you want your smoothie colder & blend well.

Enjoy! 🙂

 

*Below are some of the reasons why I use parsley in my cooking but also in some of my smoothies as well!*

 

 

Health Benefits Of Parsley!

Health Benefits Of Parsley!

 

Mixed Greens

Mixed Greens

 

blueberries

 

My daughter holding a perfect yummy organic peach!

My daughter holding a perfect yummy organic peach!

 

 

Green Breakfast Smoothie with Chia!

Green Chia Smoothie

 

This is one of my favourite smoothies to whip up for breakfast! Fast to make, it has simple ingredients and then it’s topped with some healthy chia!!! I use a super huge mug for this baby when I make it! 🙂

 

  • 1 large handful of spinach
  • 1 1/2 frozen bananas
  • 1 cup frozen mixed berries
  • 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
  • 1-2 tbsp. chia seeds (for topping)
  • a few frozen blueberries (for topping, optional)
  • a few large ice cubes if you want your smoothie to be colder (optional)
  • 1 tsp. Spirulina

 

Toss spinach, almond milk, mixed berries, spirulina and ice cubes if you’re using them into a blender. Once it’s at the consistency your happy with pour into your large glass or huge mug like I do. Top with 1-2 tbsp. of chia seeds and frozen blueberries.

 

Enjoy your energy booster breakfast smoothie! 🙂

Dinner Rush Tacos!

One of my gotta get dinner on the table fast meals is vegan/vegetarian tacos. They are always a hit with my kids! I love how you can use whatever veggies you have on hand and create a super fast meal. I cook up the veggie “meat” and always add black beans to it because it’s my kids favourite bean. As far as toppings go I use whatever I have in the fridge. I’ve made it using just the “meat” & beans along with chopped bell peppers, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes like pictured below. Other times I add in spinach or other mixed greens, corn and sliced avocado. Top it with a little hot sauce or taco sauce to give it a kick if you like and your cheese of choice. I don’t always top my tacos with “cheese” but if I do then I use a bit of daiya cheese. My kids eat their tacos vegetarian style and use regular cheese because they are not fans of faux cheese at all. As far as the veggie meat goes I try not using it very often because soy is one of the biggest foods genetically modified. When I do buy it I try to get organic when possible for a little piece of mind.

 

Dinner Rush Tacos!

You will need:

  • 1 package of tortilla wraps (I use the small size)
  • 1 package of veggie ground round/veggie “meat”
  • Spices and herbs of choice. I use paprika, oregano, chili powder, Himalayan pink salt and black pepper.
  • Veggies of choice, bell peppers, greens, tomato, etc.
  • 2 – 3 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 cup water
  • A couple tbsp.’s of olive oil
  • 1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed very well.
  • 1 large frying pan

 

Method:

  1. Heat olive oil in frying pan and add in garlic and sauté it for a minute on medium heat.
  2. Add your veggie “meat” into the pan and crumble it up.
  3. Next toss in your spices & herbs of choice as well as the black beans.
  4.  Give it a good mix and sauté for about 5 minutes on a medium heat.
  5. Add 1 cup of water and combine well. Cook for about 15 minutes until most of the liquid has been absorbed and your beans are softened.

 

* You can either add in veggies such as bell peppers & mushrooms to your meat & bean mixture and slightly cook them up or serve them raw in your taco*

 

To assemble:

  1. Grab a tortilla wrap and add some of the meat & bean mixture to it and add your veggies of choice.
  2. Top with cheese and taco or hot sauce if desired.
  3. DONE!!! Dinner is served! 🙂

 

Yep it’s pretty much the easiest meal to whip together which is perfect for rushed dinner times!

Enjoy! 🙂

 

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