CSA Stirfry + Books For Summer

Hi guys!  Happy June!  We picked up our first 2013 Summer CSA this week and found the vegetables and fruits taste delightful and fresh.  I love CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and have visited some local farms where they provide for these boxes, and I feel really connected with my food and the farmers.  I feel much better about the condition and nutrient density of my food when I know it hasn't been subjected to pesticides, picked by an underpaid and under appreciated farmer, then shipped halfway across the world.  To me, CSA veggies taste better and I know that they're healthier and fresher than any vegetables I can get at Kroger or Walmart.  Anyway, I made a delicious stirfry with these veggies for dinner last night!


Kale Chickpea Stirfry:
Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free, Peanut Free
This strifry is so easy to make- it took about fifteen minutes, start to finish.  It's made of healthy, minimally processed foods and will make you glow!
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil 
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 tsp minced ginger
  • 1/4 small red onion (CSA)
  • 2-3 leaves kale (CSA)
  • 1 small carrot, not peeled (CSA)*
  • 1/3 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1/4 lime
  • 1/4 cup red pepper, washed and chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Pumpkin seeds (unsalted) for sprinkling on top 
Directions:  Add olive oil to a small pan and heat.  Peel and mince garlic an ginger and add to the pan, careful not to burn.  Peel and chop onion (refrigerating the leftovers) and add to pan, stirring with a spatula.  Wash carrots and kale.  Remove stems from kale and chop along with carrots, adding to the pan and sautéing until the kale starts to wilt.  Turn the heat down and add chickpeas, lime, and red pepper, then season to taste (pinch of salt and a couple of turns of the pepper grinder should do. Feel free to add red pepper flakes or chopped cilantro, but I didn't have any).  Remove from the heat, transfer to a bowl, then sprinkle with pumpkin seeds.  Serves:  1.
 
 
I love quick, easy, delicious dinners like this.  They remind me why I enjoy being vegan so much- I don't feel disgustingly heavy after meals even though I know that I'm filling and fueling my body well.  The varying textures- soft chickpeas, chewy kale, and crunchy pumpkin seeds- help make this dish so amazing and I'd highly recommend this for a night where you just don't want to make a big deal out of dinner :)


Early this morning, I posted a new tab called "Books To Read."  For those of you on Summer Vacation, feel free to take a look at this list for some inspiration.  Please to email me to ask about the plot line of any books you may be interested in, and check every week because I'll add more as I reand and remember more great books (I added five more books/ series today!

Also, I ran seven miles today!  It was hard (I haven't run seven miles in a looooong time) but I did it and I'm very proud of myself.  One thing that shocked me about this run was that my Average Heart Rate was 177 and my Max HR 193, which are both so high for me.  I tried to take a walking break every time I got in the 190s, but my HR refused to go below 175!  The heat really affects my speed and Heart Rate, and apparently my caloric burn!  After I publish this post I will feast.

Post ends now...

What's your favorite quick dinner?  Does the heat affect your exercise?

Have a great weekend!  Enjoy the nice weather!

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