Chickpea Tacos w/Fresh Tomato Avocado Salsa

Never under estimate the power of the chickpea!

Packed with fiber, protein, valuable phyonutrients, and the ability to lower cholesterol, reduce blood sugar, and decrease cardiovascular risks; these little legumes are worth writing home about. Just one cup of chickpeas contains a whopping 12.5 grams of fiber, and as little as 3/4 cup of chickpeas a day can help lower our LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides in a one-month period of time. Chickpeas are a super food in my book.

Let's not overlook their taste, chickpeas are awesome, so creamy and full of flavor. You can add them to just about anything with great results, as I did here in my Chickpea Tacos.

For more information on why chickpeas are so good for us, go here.

Chickpea Tacos with Fresh Tomato Avocado Salsa

Fresh Tomato Avocado Salsa

2 roma tomatoes

1/2 avocado

the juice of 1/2 lemon

1/2 tsp coriander seasoning

1/4 tsp garlic powder

dash of salt

Chop tomatoes and 1/2 of avocado into small chunks. Put into bowl. Squeeze in 1/2 lemon and stir. Add other seasonings. Taste and add more seasoning if needed. Let sit in the refrigerator while making tacos.

Chickpea Tacos

makes 4 tacos or double for 8

4 taco shells

1 can of chickpeas

1/2 package of taco seasoning

1 cup of water

garlic powder to taste

cumin powder to taste

* optional: 1/4 cup nutritional yeast

Add a dash of oil to a medium sized pan or spray with cooking spray, just enough to prevent sticking. Heat pan to medium-high. Rinse chickpeas under water and then add to pan. Cook until lightly brown or to your liking. Add 1 cup of water to the pan. Stir in 1/2 packet of taco seasoning, nutritional yeast (if using), and other spices until well combined. Let come to a low boil. Cook uncovered for about 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Turn the heat down to low, cover and let simmer for about 10 minutes for full flavor. Heat taco shells at 325 degrees for about 3-5 minutes.

Assemble tacos by adding chickpeas first, taco sauce if desired, lettuce, and tomato avocado salsa. Or give them a personal touch by adding your favorite toppings.

I promise you wont regret making these. They are so fast, easy, and full of flavor. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

~amber

Catnip Toy GIVEAWAY Winners!

I should have known that it was going to be hard to pick only 1 winner a day for my Catnip Toy Giveaway in honor of National Feral Cat Day. I put all of the names in a bowl and tried to pick a daily winner, but I started to feel bad for all of the others who entered my giveaway and didn't win. ALL kitties deserve fun toys to play with, don't you think?!?

So guess what...

If you entered my giveaway... you are a WINNER!!!

I will be sending out emails today to all of the winners, requesting mailing addresses and color preferences of toys. If you entered my giveaway, but for some reason do not get a message from me, it is because I can't find a way to contact you. If this happens please message me on here, or email me at asimp333@yahoo.com with your mailing address. I will be shipping all toys out this week, but bare with me because I have allot of toys to make and ship, which is a good thing. :)

I would love to see pictures of your feline friends playing with their new toys, so please send some to me and I'll post them on my blog and link to your sites.

If you didn't get a chance to enter my giveaway but would still like a catnip toy of your own, you can find them in my etsy store here.

~amber

Pizza Pie, A Montage!

Who says vegans can't enjoy a good pizza?!? Blasphemy!

Everyone loves a good pizza pie, so why is it so hard for people to understand whenever a vegan says they love pizza? It doesn't have to be dairy ridden to be good. I actually find it to be quite the opposite. I like pizza more now as a vegan than I did when I consumed dairy. Vegan pizzas are more flavorful, not masked by ungodly amounts of dairy filled cheese like the other.

Making homemade pizzas is allot of fun. You can involve the whole family. Try out some of my recipes and get creative by adding your own special touch, I promise you would regret it.

I give you... Pizza Pie, A Montage!!!

click on the descriptions below for links to the recipes

Loaded Vegetable Pizza

with Green and Yellow Bell Peppers, Mushrooms, Onions, Olives

and Homemade Cashew Cheese

Crust recipe from Vegan With A Vengeance, by Isa Chandra Moskowitz

Diced Tomato Bruschetta Pizza

with Homemade Cashew Cheese

Crust recipe from Vegan With A Vengeance, by Isa Chandra Moskowitz

Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Garlic, Tomato Mini Pizza

with Potato Cashew Cheese Sauce

Tomato Garlic Mini Pizza

with Potato Cashew Cheese Sauce

Mediterranean Style Pizza

with Olives, Banana Peppers, Sun-dried Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Onions

and Follow Your Heart, Vegan Gourmet Mozzarella Style Cheese

Sliced Tomato Bruschetta Pizza

with Follow Your Heart, Vegan Gourmet Mozzarella Style Cheese

Vegetable Mini Pizza

with Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Green Bell Peppers, Onions, Tomatoes

and Potato Cashew Cheese, on top of fresh Tomato Sauce

Loaded Tomato Mini Pizza

with Fresh Roma Tomatoes, Caramelized onions, Sauteed Garlic

and Potato Cashew Cheese, on top of fresh Tomato Sauce

~ * ~

So make tonight... PIZZA NIGHT!!!

What is your favorite pizza combination?

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Fluffy Butt wants to know if you have entered our Catnip Toy GIVEAWAY for today?

Me and my furry friends are giving away (1) catnip toy a day until Sunday, October 16th, in honor of National Feral Cat Day 2011. Make sure you enter!

Catnip Toy GIVEAWAY!, Day 1 Results

Thanks to everyone who entered day 1 of my Catnip Toy Giveaway!

I have decided to make every one who entered yesterday a WINNER!!!

I will be contacting you soon for your address.

If you didn't enter yesterday, don't be sad, you can enter again today and every day until Sunday, October 16th, which is National Feral Cat Day!

~ * ~

Catnip Toy Give Away Entry Rules:

You can enter the contest once a day by following my blog and leaving me a comment telling me that you want a catnip toy, the names of your feline friends, and which of the below things you have done for your additional entries. Make sure I have a way to contact you if you are a winner. You can enter by commenting on any of this weeks posts.

You will receive (1) entry for each of the following things that you do:

• Follow my blog! and post a comment, that you want a catnip toy.

• Post this link on your Facebook Page!

• Post this link on Twitter!

• Had a Feral cat Spayed or Neutered!

Winners will be announced daily and cat toys will ship on Monday, October 17th, provided I have the winners addresses at that time.

Catnip Toy GIVEAWAY!

National Feral Cat Day 2011 is only days away, on Sunday, October 16th, and people all across the nation are gearing up for it by hosting events to help raise awareness of feral cat issues. As most of you already know, I'm a huge TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) advocate and active volunteer, so have I decided to celebrate National Feral Cat Week by giving away a Handmade (by me) Halloween themed catnip filled cat toy EVERY DAY until Sunday, October 16th... National Feral Cat Day!

I have been making catnip toys for a few years now as a way to raise money to help cover the medical expenses, including spay/neuter surgeries for feral and homeless cats. I also donate these toys to local rescues and shelters.

Each catnip toy is approximately 6 inches in diameter, (keep in mind they are handmade so sizes may vary slightly), they are made out of polyester fleece, stuffed FULL of 1/4 cup of certified organic catnip grown in the USA, and polyester fluff. The colors I will be giving away will vary from orange/black, purple/black, and green/black. All toys are made in my smoke-free, animal friendly, vegan household. :)

Catnip Toy Give Away Entry Rules:

You can enter the contest once a day by following my blog and leaving me a comment telling me that you want a catnip toy, the names of your feline friends, and which of the below things you have done for your additional entries. Make sure I have a way to contact you if you are a winner. You can enter by commenting on any of this weeks posts.

You will receive (1) entry for each of the following things that you do:

• Follow my blog!

• Post this link on your Facebook Page!

• Post this link on Twitter!
• Had a Feral cat Spayed or Neutered!

Winners will be announced daily and cat toys will ship on Monday, October 17th, provided I have the winners addresses at that time.

Molly having fun with her Halloween catnip toy!

Don't be sad if you don't win, these toys and more are always available in my Etsy store.

I'm also always willing to donate to animal rescues and giveaways.

Find more cat toys here:

AmberMakesArt.etsy.com

Custom orders available!

Rainbow Colored "Go Veg" Magnet Sets!

Spread the message of compassion on your kitchen refrigerator, office refrigerator, school locker, work locker, or on any other magnetic friendly surface with a set of these handmade "Go Veg" recycled paper clay magnets! They are also perfect for gift giving.

Do you have friends or family that you are trying to encourage to make compassionate choices? Get them a set of these magnets for a fun but subtle reminder.

Find these magnets and more on my Etsy shop: AmberMakesArt.Etsy.com

Remember buying handmade supports creativity and starving Artists like myself. :)

(4) Pack - Rainbow Colored

"Go Veg" Handmade Paper Clay Magnet Set

by AmberMakesArt.Etsy.com

ArtByAmber.com

Thank You for supporting handmade!