What Happens In Vegas & Roasted Chickpeas

Halllloooo!
Am I the WORST blogger ever?! Like, who has a blog and updates it once every MONTH?! That would be me...sorry everyone...time seemed to get away from me over the last few weeks. There were a few trips to the States for work & family visits- Vegas, DC; a certain six year-old's birthday, Spring Break, and then kapow on top of it all my bidness has spiked and I've been running with it! So here I am, and I will endeavour to write more often from here on in....

So you know what they say about Vegas & what stays in Vegas. You ever been to Vegas with a 5 year old? Here's what happens in that strange yet overwhelmingly fun town: you try not to burst an ab laughing when she points up at a 3 storey tall billboard with a photo of Holly Madison in her 'burlesque' show when she says: "Mummy, that lady is dressed like Little Bo Peep". Uh huh. Holly's Bo Peep getup, in it's entirety, could not have been bigger than a single kleenex. Charming. The other thing that 'stayed' in Vegas was the Bean's first lost tooth. Which she lost on the Strip, in the middle of the afternoon, in front of a gobsmacked Hello Kitty impersonator. Don't worry, the tooth didn't really stay there, we have it with us...but suffice it to say the Nevada Tooth Fairy was er, particularly...generous to my little girl. I hope she doesn't get used to this $5 a tooth nonsense, I'll need to start training a WHOLE lot more clients to make that fly.

So summer is just around the corner and it's exciting to hear & see so many people who are making positive changes in their activity levels. Must be the thought of all those shorts, tank tops and bikinis...or Bo Peep outfits as the case may be, that is lighting a fire under people to get fit & shed a few pounds. All the power to them! I love it! What about you? Anyone starting a new physical activity program? Have you started tightening up your eating? Remember, the 'moving' part is critical to your progress, no doubt about it. But it's what you put into your mouth that makes the most difference! As one of my favorite mentors always says: "I can make em sweat & burn calories, but I can't go home with them and sit on their forks!"

With that said, here is a recipe for a healthy, super flavourful, protein & fibre packed snack that I experimented with recently and really enjoyed. Savory Roasted Chickpeas- you can also call them Pois Chiches Epicee if you want to get fancy & amaze your friends....

Roasted Chickpeas with Cajun Spices
Ingredients:
-1 Can Chickpeas, drained, rinsed & gently patted dry
-2 TBS Extra Virgin Olive Oil
-Cajun Seasoning (or other spice blend) to taste

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a rimmed cookie sheet with foil and lightly spray with cooking spray or brush with a bit of olive oil.
-In a bowl, combine the chickpeas with the 2TBS of oil & spices, toss to coat completely.
-Spread prepared chickpeas on the sheet and into the oven they go. Give them a shake every 15 minutes or so so they cook evenly on all sides. Roast for 50-60 minutes, but keep an eye on them because there's a fine line between roasted, crispy, toasty goodness and little black Pellets of Death...

Try them instead of a greasy bag of potato chips when you're chiling in front of the tube, as part of lunch (I just had a 1/4 cup alongside some goat cheese, Mary's Crackers, & a mountain of raw veg) or on top of a salad for a little texture & flavour. Enjoy! Let me know what you think!

Alrighty then. I must away to some client work & Mt Laundry (the amount I have to get through could be considered a cardio & resistance workout, or at least endurance, yeesh) before the afternoon is all gone. Hope you are all well, and comment anytime- I love to hear from you!
xoMG