Honey Cinnamon Crunchy Chickpeas

This is another guilt-free snack. This is a perfect alternative to chips because they're tasty, crunchy and you definitely can't eat just one! They are super easy to make, but they do require a bit of patience as they do take a while to bake in the oven. But they are so healthy and yummy that they are definitely worth the wait!

These consist of...
- chickpeas
- olive oil
- honey
- cinnamon
- salt
- sugar
- nutmeg

How to make it:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Strain your chickpeas and sandwich them between 2 paper towels to absorb the moisture.
2. Transfer dried chickpeas to a non-stick baking sheet, and put them in the oven for 50-60 minutes.
3. While chickpeas are still hot, put them in a bowl and toss them with a little bit of olive oil, some honey, cinnamon, a pinch of salt and a dash of nutmeg. Put them back in the oven for another 10-15 minutes to carmelize.

Apple and Brie Sammies

If you're anything like me, sometimes your brain confuses boredom with hunger, which can lead to mindless eating. Sometimes you pick up a bag of chips, sit down on the couch in front of the TV, and before you know it the bag is empty, leaving you wondering how you ate so much without even realizing, and leaving you feeling guilty. And then you think to yourself, maybe I should have picked a healthier snack. So here is a healthy and tasty snack idea for you all, inspired by a recipe that I found on (yes, you guessed it) Pinterest- which can be viewed here.

Brie is not only one of my favourite cheeses, but it is also so versatile! It seems to complement so many other foods and can be deliciously incorporated into so many different dishes. And these little bite-sized sammies are no exception! Eat as a snack or serve as an appetizer! They consist of...
- an apple (I find it tastes best with granny smiths)
- brie cheese
- pecans
- honey

How to make it:
1. Slice up your apple, and then cut each slice in half so that you have 2 (almost) symmetrical pieces.
2. Cut up some tiny brie slices, and sandwich them between 2 halves of the apple slices- I like to put the brie in the microwave for about 5-10 seconds, just to get it warm and a little melty to make the sammies stick together better.
3. Top each sammie with a pecan, and a little drizzle of honey.

A Variation:
Try using peanut butter instead of brie for more protein!

Maquinoa & Cheese

Love mac & cheese but hate the guilt that goes with it? Why not try this guilt-free, baked quinoa alternative?! It's full of the cheesy-goodness that you love, without all the carbs and processed junk. And, once again, it's gluten-free! Move over Kraft, there's a new dinner in town!

This clever little dish was also found on my beloved Pinterest, and can be viewed here (under its original name). My own version consisted of...
- quinoa
- chicken broth
- cream cheese
- shredded cheddar cheese (I used double cheddar)
- cup grated parmesan cheese
- salt
- pepper
- ground flax seeds

How to make it:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a pot, combine 1/2 cup of quinoa and 1 cup chicken broth. Bring to a boil and then let simmer until all the liquid is absorbed.
2. Mix in 2 oz/ 1/4 cup of cream cheese, 1/4 cup shredded cheddar, 1/4 grated parmesan cheese, 1/2 tbsp of ground flax seeds and a little salt and pepper.
3. Transfer into a baking dish (or 2 separate smaller baking dishes, I used my ramekins and they were the perfect size!) and top with 1/2 cup of more shredded cheddar cheese.
4. Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, or until cheese starts to bubble.

Suggestions to make it even healthier:
Try adding in some carmelized onions to the mixture!

Lauren's West Coast Chop

This salad was inspired by Original Joe's West Coast Chop. I had it recently during a visit home and thought it was one of the best and most unique salads I've had in a while. The secret: BAKED chickpeas! They're nice and crunchy so they're almost like croutons, but tastier AND a great source of protein (not to mention gluten-free)!

Original Joe's version can be found here, but my own version consists of...
- spinach
- chickpeas
- olive oil
- seasoning salt
- cucumber
- avocado 
- craisins
- almond slivers
- goat cheese
- honey dijon vinaigrette

How to make it:
1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Drain your chickpeas, drizzle with some olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning salt (or your own combination of spices) and bake in the oven for about 45 minutes.
2. Cut up some cucumber julienne, slice up some avocado and throw it in a bowl with some spinach, craisins, almond slivers, and baked chickpeas when ready.
3. Finish off with some goat cheese and your favorite honey dijon vinaigrette dressing (I used a homemade one).

A Variation:
This salad could easily be made into a meal by adding some grilled chicken!