Roasted chickpeas.

I've been trying to come up with something to make out of chickpeas. Something that tastes good.

You see, I have tried, for example, chickpea burgers which did NOT taste good. They were, in fact, terrible and I have been banned from ever making them again. EVER.

But these turned out quite nice! I used dried chickpeas; rinse them, soak them overnight and pat them dry. Place in a bowl, add two tbsps of canola oil, three tbsps taco seasoning mix and mix well. Spread onto a baking tray and toast in a 150 C degrees oven for 35 to 40 minutes.

Not a bad snack for a Monday night movie!

Tortilla pizzas

A very quick dish which we actually make quite often.

These, and pizza in general, in our household serve one purpose only. Hide the veggies.

The one with the salami strips is actually for the vegetable-fobic kid. Again, the purpose is to hide the veggies.

Still, here's the OMG I JUST ATE A BROCCOLI - face.

In general, it goes down well. It also goes into his hair.

Colourful kidroom

Our home is white, black and grey. Except for the kid's room.

This room was done over a year ago, and I still like it. Walls are a neutral colour, textiles and some of the furniture are bright, happy colours.

Bookshelf was an online find for 10 euros and I painted it white & blue.

This drawer we've had for years and when it was placed here, I painted it blue and changed the handles. It stores all the kid's clothes.

The room is a combination of old and new. IKEA Hemnes daybed was purchased new, as well as the rug and all the fabrics for the cushions. The stool in the above picture belonged to my grandma; it's not very neat but I like it the way it is, a bit rugged.

The elephant is vintage. It used to be mine.

Let it rain

I have recently learned two things. First, I don't function very well in over 22 C degrees. So I love that it's getting cooler and I love the rain showers.

Second, a two-year-old is tall enough to reach the door handle and open the back door. Naturally this happens right after a massive rain shower.

Actually, I have learned a third thing too. If you really want to learn to enjoy rain, ask the said (or any, I guess) two-year-old. He knows how it's done.

Blue

When it comes to clothing, I'm a blue & white person.

Except for the occasional LBD, I wear this. A comfortable shirt and jeans. Most of my jeans are not so comfy anymore, thanks to all the BBQs this summer.

Bag is from a small Tuscan market, ca. 2006. LOVE IT.

Kale & cabbage.

And chicken and fried rice.

Another very simple and relatively healthy choice for your everyday dinner.

Kale is from my own garden. Come next summer, I just might try growing cabbage too.

My husband hates the smell of cooked cabbage, so I can only make it when he's not around. Although the 2-year-old also seems to think it's an unsafe environment as he's wearing a helmet for dinner.

Everyday food

Someone (my mother-in-law, actually) once asked me, if we always eat something "fancy", since I like cooking. Well ... we don't.

I do try to cook from fresh, healthy ingredients though, even if the food itself is simple.

For sweeter snacks we prefer fruits instead of sugary, artificial stuff. But mind you, I don't believe in absolutes.

Dinner is prepared as easily as cooking a salmon fillet (seasoned with salt), kale and broccoli under a tin foil in a 150 degree oven for 45 minutes. Quite good, quite healthy.

The baskets in the kitchen are also flea market finds (see previous post here). I've found that I use fruits and veggies a lot more, when they're right there reminding me of their existence.