Avocado Chickpea Sandwiches

So I changed up my recipe slightly (based on my audience !)– and have two variations – the Avocado Chickpea Salad Sandwich and the Spicy Chicken & Chickpea Salad Sandwich. I do this thing where I don’t measure anything at all – but I tried to put a measurement to each ingredient so HERE GOES! The recipe takes about fifteen minutes to throw together – easy peasy.

Avocado Chickpea Salad Sandwiches//yields approx. 4 sandwiches

-       2 medium avocados

-       ½ lime

-       2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

-       ½- ¼ teaspoon salt + pepper

-       1 ¾ cups cooked chickpeas, rinsed and drained

-       sprouts - optional

-       onion - optional

Spicy Chicken & Chickpea Salad Sandwich

-       1 can white chicken

-       1 ½ teaspoon Sriracha

-       1 teaspoon garlic hummus

-       onion - optional

Cut the avocado into cubes and place into food processor. Pulse a few times, scraping the sides. Squeeze the lime and add the salt + pepper + olive oil. Continue pulsing until it reaches a thick consistency – not chunky, but not totally pureed. Add onion and stir it up!

(Not the best food photog, bear with me here!)

Mash the chickpeas in a large mixing bowl. I used a whisk to mash them up – you want them to be about half-mashed. Mix the chickpeas and avocado mix – and you’re sandwich ready! These would be great on Ezekiel muffins or wrapped up in lettuce – I made them on flatbreads. I like the texture the sprouts add - but you can add whatever toppings you would like! And as for the Chicken variation - even easier - add all into a bowl and mix!

Pinterest Fails

Is it just me, or is Pinterest the place where all good ideas go to die? I swear, I get so excited pinning awesome ideas and recipes and totally fall short with the follow-through. SO!! I decided once a week, I'm going to try out a new recipe and I need your help for Week 1! Here are the options:

Baked Eggplant and Zucchini Sandwiches with Avocado Aioli 

Avocado Pesto Chickpea Salad Sandwiches

Goat Cheese Quinoa Pizza 

What are your thoughts?! Let me know and I will post the final product and recipe!

Pit Stop at Trader Joe's

We did some running around the other day and finally got to check out Trader Joe's! I have never been and was super pumped to check it out so I thought I would share some of my finds. I got some of my usual buys: avocado, peppers, cereal bars for on-the-go snacks.

I ALWAYS have toasted sprouted grain for breakfast (with peanut butter, of course!) - usually Ezekiel muffins - so I decided to try their brand which both Harlow and I are pretty impressed with. It's a little thicker than the Ezekiel bread, so that is a plus in my book. I also always have tortilla chips on hand because chips and cheese/salsa is my favorite snack so these quinoa and black bean chips seemed to be a great pick. I haven't tried yet, but I will keep you filled in! Dried mango - great on-the-go snack.

I think my favorite  pick has got to be the cookie butter. Definitely a treat but so ridiculously good. I also wanted to get a little crazy (haha) and try dates - pitted with peanut butter = so good. Someone also recommended that I warm them in the oven with a little almond butter, so this is definitely something I'm going to have to try.

I also wanted to add that Harlow was totally digging the oldies music they had going on. She got really into it and was jamming while doing her usual waving and saying hello to every single person in the store! Where do you usually shop/what are your go-to items?? Let's hear it!