>U Mom Knows Best: April 2020

Thursday, April 30, 2020

10 Ways Celebrate Mothers Day While Staying At Home

A little bit of creativity will make this mother's day special 


   I received a gift from Teleflora to facilitate this post.

 Mother's day is every day but one day a year moms get a day that calls for a celebration. This year celebrating mom calls for more celebration as the job of a mom has been quite different and at times difficult. Over a month ago while the world has been dealing with a respiratory virus, moms became homeschool teachers, birthday parade organizers, and virtual event organizers, as their children became their new office mates. Some moms had to work even harder outside the home and may not be able to even hug their child. Like always, moms stepped up to their new roles and have been doing everything they can to make sure their children are safe and loved. Moms have been working hard so their kids will remember the love and laughter that made this time a happy time at home.


Ways to celebrate mom while sheltering in place

Just because we have to stay home does not mean that we can't celebrate mother's day. We just have to be creative and as a mom  has always said: "it is the thought that counts." So while you may not be able to take mom out to dinner or visit your mom, there are plenty of ways to make this day special. As a mom to five kids, I have plenty of ideas of how I would like to celebrate mother's day.

Check out some ideas for celebrating mother's day:

1. Let mom sleep in Most moms do not get enough sleep so give her a day that she can sleep in. While mom is sleeping, take the kids for a walk so the house stays quiet. Forget making breakfast in bed, that way mom does not wake up to a mess in the kitchen. Instead, mom sleep in and let her wake up to a fresh cup of coffee or even homemade iced coffee, that has not been microwaved 100 times and enjoy her coffee in bed.

2. A simple breakfast in bed We moms do enjoy breakfast in bed, we just don't enjoy the mess in the kitchen. So serve mom a simple breakfast in bed, that requires no messy kitchen. My favorite breakfast in bed from my kids is a bagel with cream cheese and hot coffee. If you are able to clean up the kitchen to mom's standards, then make mom some healthy chocolate pancakes.

3. Clean the house Send mom out for a walk, by herself and while she is gone, put the kids to work cleaning the house. Mom will be happy for a day that she does not have to clean.


4. Order take out food To keep the kitchen clean, order take out food or grill outside. Use paper plates so mom does not have to look at dirty dishes. You can even enjoy the food picnic-style. outside so there are no crumbs for mom to look at on the floor. You can also make pizza at home with this delicious pizza recipe.


5. Send her flowers If you are able to find a florist that delivers, send mom flowers. Moms love flowers. Many florists are doing contactless delivery and will make mom a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

6. Send her favorite treat Places are still delivering and you can order many things online. So order mom her favorite box of cookies or another sweet treat. Then let mom enjoy the sweet treat all to herself with no one begging for a bite. You can also bake mom some cookies like these Chocolate Dipped Salted Almond Butter Cookies or Lemon Frosted Rosemary Sugar cookies.

7. A spa day While you won't be able to send mom to a spa, you can buy her the materials to let her enjoy a hot bath at home while you keep the kids entertained. Think bath salts, bubble bath, candles, and her favorite beverage.


8. Let her pick the movie Let mom enjoy her favorite movie without any noise. A great idea is to pack mom some movie snacks along with an electronic device with her favorite movie. Then tell her to drive away from the house and enjoy the movie in the car.

9. Take the kids for a walk Let mom enjoy a quiet house all to herself. So take the kids out for a walk or a long car ride so mom can enjoy a quiet house.

10. Ice cream sundaes Buy mom her favorite flavor of ice cream and all the fixings to make ice cream sundaes. The whole family will enjoy ice cream and a day with mom.

 If this is mother's day is a mom's first, I have some great gifts suggestions for new moms. These are gifts that new moms will love.

Mothers Day is not canceled

 I am sure you can think of other great ideas to celebrate mom. If your mom lives far away, you can send her flowers or a special package with many of these ideas. Just let mom know that she is the best and that she is appreciated. Don't forget to have the kids make her a card as mom's love the pictures that her kids make.

 Teleflora would love to say Happy Mother's Day to all the moms and they would like to thank you for your continuous support. Teleflora made a special video for moms called “A Mother’s Love” and you need to watch it as it is so awesome! Teleflora is still delivering flowers for mother's day and is doing contactless deliveries to keep you safe. I have received many flower arrangements from Teleflora over the years and each bunch of flowers always make me smile.

Happy Mother's Day!


Monday, April 27, 2020

Plant Based Crab Cakes That Are Vegan

A couple unique ingredients are all it takes to make a vegan dish that tastes and looks like crab cakes


This page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases 

 These vegan "crab" cake look-alikes have amazing texture and flavor, one bite and you will think they are the real thing. The plant-based version of seafood cakes are whole food, oil-free, sugar-free, and the recipe used no processed ingredients or artificial ingredients or colors. They are so easy to make and you will agree that a vegan diet can be delicious. Following a plant-based diet is simple and delicious when you have the best recipes and some unique ingredients.


Unique ingredient ~ #1 Heart of Palm



 The main ingredient in these wonderful "crab" cakes is heart of palm. Heart of palm is a vegetable harvested from the inner core and growing bud of certain palm trees. This nutritious veggie is a great source of fiber, iron, and zinc. The heart of palm has a texture similar to crab and is usually sold in cans and glass jars. I am sure at specialty stores, you may be able to buy hearts of palm fresh but this recipe needs the can version of hearts of palm. The can of hearts of palm is packed in water or brine which gives the texture that is needed for the vegan "crab" substitute for this vegan recipe. Heart of palm can be found in most grocery stores and online. I purchased my heart of palm online. The heart of palm may have a taste similar to artichoke hearts but make sure to buy hearts of palm for this recipe.

Unique ingredient #2 ~ Old Bay Seasoning

 The Old Bay Seasoning is another key ingredient as it has the perfect blend of spices that gives the "crab" cakes the seafood flavor. Old Bay Seasoning is a seasoning blend that is often used in seafood recipes. This flavor spice of 18 spices can also be used to season chicken and veggies. So don't worry about buying a whole container of Old Bay Seasoning as you will find many uses for the spice blend and it is reasonably priced.


Unique ingredient #3 ~ Aquafaba


 I am sure most of you have never heard of Aquafaba. This vegan egg substitute is a wonderful liquid that is made from cooking dried chickpeas or dried garbanzo beans. This gel-like liquid that most people pour down the drain after opening a can of garbanzo beans to make an easy hummus recipe. This unique liquid from cooking chickpeas can be whipped like egg whites to make vegan chocolate mousse or used like eggs to make vegan scrambled eggs. So for this recipe, you are going to need 1/4 cup of chickpea liquid or Aquafaba, so save that awesome vegan egg liquid from your can of chickpeas (store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks) or make homemade Aquafaba from dried chickpeas in your Instant Pot. Making Aquafaba is so easy in an Instant Pot, get the homemade Aquafaba recipe here.

Unique ingredient #4 ~ Chickpeas


 If you decide to make your own Aquafaba, then you will be using the cooked chickpeas from that recipe. If you are using a can of chickpeas, then make sure to save the liquid from the can. The cooked chickpeas in this vegetarian recipe give the crab-like texture so it tastes like the real thing. I think when you make your favorite foods vegan, the texture is just important as taste.


Unique ingredient #5 ~ Panko

 To get the crispy crust on these delicious plant-based "crab" cakes, you will need some Panko crumbs. Panko crumbs are for a coating used in many recipes like fish. Panko is simply bread crumbs so they are not gluten-free. If you need this recipe to be vegan then use gluten-free bread crumbs.

A simple vegan recipe



 When I discovered this recipe, I was searching for how to make vegan mayo with Aquafaba and I came across the vegan "crab" cake recipe. I am addicted to that fake crab meat and I have not been able to buy it in the stores for a long time. I have been shopping for food online in the past six weeks so I knew that I could get the ingredients that I needed for the recipe online. I have been eating mostly vegan for a while and this recipe would help me make my diet more plant-based. Discovering vegan recipes like vegan tuna salad have made it so easy to swap out my favorite foods to eat more meatless meals and follow a plant-based diet.


So make your Aquafaba and gather up the rest of the ingredients that you need for this delicious vegan recipe. You will also need a food processor to make the right texture for the cakes. If you don't have a food processor, you can use a fork to smash the chickpeas but a food processor is an awesome small appliance to have in the kitchen for vegan cooking. Now is the perfect time to splurge on a food processor and you can find a food processor on Amazon for under $50.

 


Pin this recipe on Pinterest to save it so you can make it later!

VEGAN “CRAB” CAKES

VEGAN “CRAB” CAKES

Yield: 6
Author:
These Vegan “Crab” Cakes will blow you away with their amazing texture and flavor. They are easy to make and look like the real deal.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup can chickpeas  Save all the liquid from the can
  • 1 – 14 oz. can Hearts of Palm, drained and rinsed
  • 1/4 cup reserved chickpea liquid-save the rest for brushing the crab cakes before baking
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon vegan Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 cup green onions, diced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon of dried parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning 
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon sweet paprika (+ more for sprinkling)
  • 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs (+ extra for the outer coat

Instructions:

  1. Drain the chickpeas over a strainer into a bowl to reserve the keep the liquid
  2. Rinse the chickpeas and add them to a food processor. Pulse the processor a few times to break them up. Be careful not to over-process the chickpeas so there are some chucks.
  3.  Remove from the food processor and set the chickpeas aside in a medium bowl.
  4. Then add the drained hearts of palm to the food processor and pulse a few times to break them up.  Be careful not to over-process the hearts of palm as you want the texture to resemble crab meat. 
  5. Remove from the hearts of palm processor and place it in the same bowl as the processed chickpeas.
  6. In a separate bowl, whisk the reserved chickpea liquid to get a frothy consistency – this will take a couple of minutes.
  7.  To the 1/4 cup of chickpea liquid, stir in the lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and all the dry seasonings. 
  8. Place the breadcrumbs and green onions into the chickpea and hearts of palms bowl, stir together.  Then add the whisked chickpea liquid mixture and remaining seasonings. 
  9. Cover the bowl and place mixture into the freezer for 15 to firm up.
  10. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
  11. Place the bread crumbs onto a flat plate. 
  12. Fill a 1/3 cup measuring cup with the "crab" cake mixture and pack it down firmly, then remove and further shape it into a patty.  Place the patty on to the bread crumbs and gently coat each side.
  13. Place the patty on a baking sheet. Repeat the above steps until all patties are formed.
  14. Lightly brush all the patties with the reserved chickpea liquid and sprinkle each one with the paprika powder.
  15. Bake the patties for 20 minutes. After20 minutes, switch the oven temperature to broil, moving the crab cakes to the top rack. Broil the cakes until lightly brown.  Serve immediately.
Created using The Recipes Generator

Friday, April 24, 2020

Diamond Art Club Is a Fun Screen Free Craft Kit For The Whole Family

A fun craft kit that the whole family can enjoy

  I received a sample from Diamond Art Club to facilitate this post.

 With millions of Americans staying home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are wondering how to keep themselves occupied. If you are like me, you are tired of everyone watching television and playing on their computers of devices. You may have brought out the board games or started a jigsaw puzzle and those are starting to get boring. I bet you are tired of the mess that kids have made with crafts like making slime or worse yet, having to get the slime out of the carpet. So how are we supposed to keep everyone entertained at a time that we can not leave the house?

A fun screen-free craft kit that protects the eyes

 All the internet surfing and binge-watching TV shows can put a considerable strain on the eyes and the body so it is good to walk away from the screen time. So have your family use their time of boredom to create a beautiful work of art that they can hang on the wall. This craft kit can keep the kids entertained and they can make a creative picture for mom while mom gets some quiet time. I don't know about you but as a mom, I am busier than ever during this stay at home time and have no clue how it feels to be bored. Between homeschooling and cleaning up the kitchen, I am worn out. So I am glad that my boys are enjoying a fun art kit that keeps them busy and keeps the house quiet so I can do my work.


  The Diamond Art Club makes affordable craft kits that you can do mess-free painting with "diamonds" and the result is a pretty picture. I selected a picture of a butterfly that was a simple art kit but so cool looking. The Diamond Art Club has a huge selection of sparkle art kits so I am sure you will find one that will please your eyes and will be a perfect work of art to hang on your wall. 

The craft kit from Diamond Art Club was easy for my boys to understand and was a perfect quarantine activity to keep my boys busy. We choose to set the "diamond" painting kit up on the dining room table so the family could join in on the fun. Like a puzzle, this kit can be enjoyed over several hours or days. Since my boys have online school in the morning, they are designing my beautiful butterfly picture a little bit each day. So I love that this crafting kit is keeping them busy every day. The boys take turns sticking the colored pieces on the canvas.



A mess-free paint by number craft kit



 If you have ever done paint by number coloring page then you will quickly learn how to apply the different colors on the painting. The kit includes everything that you need to diamond paint. The canvas has coded spaces that match the different Color-Coded Rhinestones. The process is simple as it is a process of using a special applicator to stick the rhinestones onto the canvas.


 It’s an easy craft to learn, affordable, and fun for the whole family.

 My one son told me that sticking the color pieces onto the butterfly canvas was super easy. Each day, I enjoyed seeing the progress of my work of art. My boys have decided that they will complete this picture by Mother's day and it will be my present. I am excited to see what the finished project will look like. Once they finish the butterfly picture, I might just have to order another kit so the boys can create a picture for their dad or for their bedroom wall. The Diamond Art Club has a wide selection of painting kits from beautiful portraits, landscapes, cartoon characters, and even ones that will look awesome in my kitchen.



Thursday, April 23, 2020

Staying Fit While Having To Social Distance


The C lung virus pandemic can make it challenging to maintain a physically active lifestyle


 I received samples from Chil to facilitate this post

 Now that my new norm is having to shelter at home and stay away from other people, it has been a challenge to continue my workout routine. I have become creative in working out and getting my daily exercise as I do not want to be infected with the respiratory virus that can make me very sick. I have been getting out early in the morning to go running and have been running on paths that other people are not on. That has been making it easy to stay 6 feet away from others. When I do see someone on the same path that I am on, I make sure to pass them with plenty of distance between us.


 I have never liked to run with others as I use my running time as a thinking or clearing my mind time. I also like to run fast and most people my age could not keep up with me. The virus thing has changed my running routine a little bit as now I am running with my boys. My boys are not attending school so we are training together and I am enjoying their faster than my pace as it is helping me get stronger in my running speed. The boys and I have a fun game that we play when we run, when we see another person, we pretend they are a zombie and we run faster. My boys sure are giving my body a good workout every day which also means that my muscles have become sore. Sore muscles don't bother me as I have several natural ways to treat muscle pain from exercise.

The best way to treat sore muscles



 My favorite way to treat my achy joints and dull pain is with CBD. I find that my sore muscles get faster relief when I apply a CBD salve directly on the affected muscle and I love that I don't have to take any over the counter pain medicines that could affect my stomach. I have been a fan of CBD creams for quite some time and I am glad that I discovered Chil Wellness Aspen’s Maximum Relief Salve as it combines many of my favorite pain-relief supplements into one ointment. Now, I don't have to reach for my arnica supplement as this CBD salve has arnica in it as well as medical-grade Magnesium-Sulfate crystals, Boswellia,  and Menthol. This pain relief salve has 1000mg of high-quality Bio-Nano™ Full-Spectrum CBD so I can get moving again with my boys the next day. My personal trainers don't let me have a day off from running as they are training for a 5K race and want me to enter this race with them. I admit that I like to compete when I run a race and I am determined to place in my age category. Now that I am over 50, it might be easier to get 1st place in my age category. I have not entered a 5K race in a long time as I had some running injuries 5 years ago. Before my sports injuries, I did well in races and I won 2nd place in my age category.


No virus or age is going to keep me from running

 I have learned over the years on how to avoid injuries while exercising and I have not had any running injuries since 2016. I have learned how to listen to my body and know when I need to take a break from fitness or when a CBD muscle cream will help my muscles recover. I bet you have asked yourself, is it ok to workout when I am sick? I say yes, it is ok to workout when you are sick unless you have certain cold symptoms. Exercise is good for your body and immune system so during this virus thing make sure to exercise every day. I know that my daily exercise keeps my mind and mood happy so I am better able to cope with staying at home with my wild noisy boys.


 I also have been working hard on strengthing my muscles and I am proud that I can beat my younger boys in a pushup competition. My college kid is home and he again is inspiring me to continue to lift weights. Last July, the last time he was home for a school break, he inspired me at the local gym and gave me weight lifting tips. You have to see the before and after photos of my six-month fitness update to a stronger body. Even I was amazed at how strong my muscles were. So I am making good use of my quarantine time at home and using kettlebells and a rock-filled detergent bottle to continue my lifting of weights. My son has shown me new ways to strengthen my muscles and I am glad that I have a 100% organic American hemp salve that I can apply to my arms after I exercise. I am not going to let sore muscles or age get in the way of stronger muscles. I just turned 55 and I am determined to get a stronger body during this self-isolation. My new motto has been summer bodies are made in self-quarantine.


CBD gives me energy and hydration



 Now that the weather is finally getting warmer, it is important to stay hydrated while staying fit. It is a good thing to drink plenty of water before and after you exercise. Check out my hydration tips while exercising to make sure you are staying hydrated. When it is hot outside, your body may need more than water to stay properly hydrated so drinking a drink with electrolytes will help. I find that I am able to perform better when I drink a hydration drink before and after I run. That way my body gets the right balance of Water, Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, and Glucose. I am enjoying a lemon CBD hydration drink mix from Chil Wellness and I love that it is low in sugar. I find that the CBD helps my mind so I can focus better on my writing.


 Some people may be against energy drinks but I like consuming a natural energy drink before I run as the caffeine helps me get going in the morning. My body performs better with a small amount of caffeine and I never have the jitters or crash when I consume a natural energy drink like this delicious watermelon one with CBD. The CBD helps my mind so I can use my running time to compose my next article. My running time is also my thinking time and can compose a whole fitness article while I run. Now if I can just find a way to record my thoughts onto my computer while I run, then I could get so much more accomplished.

Workout safely

 During this lung virus outbreak, it is even more important to prevent sports injuries. So if you are new to fitness, gradually increase your workouts. Walking is a great form of exercise so don't start running until you have perfected the running thing. Sore muscles are something that you can treat at home but tearing or pulling a muscle may require a doctor visit. Biking is a good form of exercise but make sure to wear a bike helmet. There are many best exercises to stay in shape and even moms can exercise with these workout tips for stay at home moms. So don't let social distancing be an excuse for not staying fit as exercise is good for your immune system. Exercise is also great for your mental health and staying fit will help you better cope during this unpredictable time.




Monday, April 20, 2020

How To Make Vegan Scrambled Eggs With Chickpeas

 Vegan Scrambled Eggs Actually Taste Like Real Eggs. These vegan eggs have an amazing texture, one bite and you may never eat the real eggs again. This recipe is amazing and so easy to make!

This page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases 

 Who knew that you can make a vegan dish that tastes and looks like scrambled eggs. I know it sounds too good to be true but food can be delicious when you follow a plant-based diet. So how does one make a vegan version of scrambled eggs without using eggs? You simply use a staple that you probably have in your pantry- chickpeas. Most people buy chickpeas or garbanzo beans to make hummus but I am going to show you a whole new use for that can of chickpeas that you have in your food staples and it has nothing to do with those nutty-tasting chickpeas but instead the liquid or brine from the can of chickpeas. 

 That's right, the liquid in the chickpea can that you usually toss down the drain. So next time you open a can of garbanzo beans, drain the liquid into a jar and use it to create soft, curdy scrambled eggs that are plant-based. This magical egg substitute is called Aquafaba and can be used for many things like vegan chocolate mousse, vegan mayo, and vegan egg dishes. So start saving the can of chickpea liquid or learn how to make your own vegan egg liquid.


Learn how to make the magical vegan egg substitute called Aquafaba using chickpea cooking liquid



Vegan eggs are:
+ Delicious
+ Easy to make
+ Plant-based food
+ Nutritious
+ Vegetarian
+ Great for any meal
+ Allergy-friendly
+ Gluten-free

 That's right you can make your own Aquafaba and all you need is a bag of dried chickpeas and a pressure cooker or Instant Pot. You also will need a Mason jar. So buy the items that you need and then get the recipe for Aquafaba HERE.


Don't cook all the dried chickpeas



 To make the Aquafaba, you need to cook the dried garbanzo beans. Those cooked chickpeas can be used for many recipes like vegan tuna salad or oven-roasted garbanzo beans but make sure not to cook the whole bag of dried chickpeas. For the aquafaba liquid recipe, you only need one cup of dried beans. Then you are going to make homemade garbanzo bean flour from dried chickpeas or you can buy garbanzo bean flour. You will need garbanzo bean flour for the vegan scrambled egg recipe. Don't worry about not having any other uses for the chickpea flour as this high-protein flour can be used in other recipes like this delicious vegan omelet or even making grain-free gluten-free crackers. I swear I get so hungry from writing my recipe posts.

Tip: You can also use the Aquafaba from a can of chickpeas. 


You need to follow my Pinterest page for more delicious recipes.


How to make vegan scrambled eggs



 Making these delicious plant-based scrambled eggs is so easy. You just combine the garbanzo bean flour with the Aquafaba, nutritional yeast, and some spices. The spices give the vegan eggs their amazing yellow color and their great egg-like taste. Don't skimp on any of the recipe's ingredients like nutritional yeast as they are all needed for the flavor. Nutritional yeast is a great vegan substitute for vegan parmesan cheese and you can use the nutritional yeast to make vegan cashew cheese that is an awesome tasty spread that tastes like a pate. This vegan food plan is not that hard to follow as long as you have many plant-based recipes. Following a plant-based diet is a money-saving thing to do as a meatless diet is less expensive than eating meat. In my opinion, a meatless diet is better for your health. I mostly follow a vegan diet as it helps with my asthma as a dairy allergy was the cause of my asthma. I do occasionally eat fish and eggs but this vegan egg recipe is changing that. You can even bake without eggs with these 11 vegan egg substitutes. Once you try many of these vegan recipes, you might just stop eating eggs.

Scrambles like real eggs



 This unique vegan egg substitute even scrambles like the real thing. Once you pour the vegan egg batter into the pan it starts cooking like real eggs and then you are able to scramble the vegan egg mixture up. If you like veggies with your vegan eggs, I recommend cooking them or saute the veggies before adding them to the vegan eggs. You can use veggies like spinach, peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, and onions. You can even add vegan cheese to this delicious vegan scramble. I like adding green chile to mine.


Make sure to pin this recipe so you can make it later!




Homemade Aquafaba Made In The Pressure Cooker

Learn how to make the magical vegan egg substitute called Aquafaba using chickpea cooking liquid

This page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases 

 I have known about Aquafaba for a long time as I made a vegan mousse with it five years ago. While the chocolate mousse had wonderful whipped airy texture, the taste was not that good so I really never made it again. Five years later, I discovered that the taste of my plant-based mousse may have been off as I made my Aquafaba from canned chickpeas. Canned chickpeas have preservatives in them that may make the chickpea liquid have a bad taste. Making Aquafaba liquid from dried chickpeas results in a plant-based egg substitute that has a better taste and this egg-like liquid can be used in sweet and savory recipes that call for eggs.

What is Aquafaba?
For those of you who are still wondering what Aquafaba is, here’s a quick lesson. In Latin, Aqua means water and Faba means beans. One of the most recent and newest culinary discoveries (as recent as 2014), chickpea cooking liquid has been found to be an effective substitute in its ability to whip and hold air almost as effectively as an egg. Its uses have astounded everyone so much so that there is an official Aquafaba website! There you’ll find tips, recipes, answers and more to all your questions.



 I am talking about the liquid that comes along with chickpeas in a can, or the brownish liquid left behind after you’ve cooked chickpeas from scratch! Strange as it may seem this liquid from cooking chickpeas can be used in many delicious vegan recipes like scrambled vegan eggs, savory sauces, and sweet desserts like vegan chocolate mousse. I am still discovering the many ways that I can use this vegan substitute for eggs.

Vegan "Crab" Cakes

The most recent recipe that uses Aquafaba that I discovered was for vegan "crab" cakes. I was so excited to find a vegan crab substitute that I had to order a case of hearts of palm online so I could make this plant-based recipe. I am sure that I could find a can of palm hearts in my local store but this respiratory virus outbreak pandemic is having me stay at home. Since I have a dairy allergy that causes asthma, I am not shopping at local stores but I am choosing to shop for food online. My type of asthma causes my lungs to produce mucus so I can't chance catching this lung virus that produces too much mucus in your lungs. I remember how sick I was two years ago and I don't want this lung virus to cause a severe asthma attack that might land me in the hospital. For now, I am able to manage asthma symptoms naturally as long as I avoid my asthma triggers.

I also discovered a plant-based recipe for vegan scrambled eggs that uses Aquafaba chickpea liquid that is very similar to my vegan omelet recipe. I have yet to make the plant-based scrambled eggs but I am sure that the additional liquid from cooking chickpeas will help the vegan egg dish have a better texture and will form into an omelet or a scramble of vegan eggs so much better.

Cooking chickpeas



Cooking chickpeas is easy and you can cook chickpeas in the pressure cooker quickly. You can also cook chickpeas over the stove. After you make the Aquafaba recipe, you can use the cooked chickpeas for hummus or vegan tuna salad that tastes like the real thing. I have many different recipes for hummus but here is an easy recipe for hummus.

Chickpeas are a frugal pantry staple


I always have several pounds of dried chickpeas or garbanzo beans in my pantry as they are so versatile and have many uses. I love oven roasting chickpeas for a delicious healthy snack. You can also use the dried chickpeas to make chickpea flour. Chickpeas are a meatless protein that can be enjoyed in so many recipes. Chickpeas are an awesome frugal pantry staple for meatless meals and you will love their nutty flavor.


Homemade Aquafaba

 You don’t always have to open up a can of chickpeas to get a little Aquafaba. You can cook chickpeas at home yourself and make all the Aquafaba you’ll ever need! Homemade Aquafaba tastes so much better than the chickpea liquid from the can of chickpeas. Making Aquafaba is easy and only has 4 steps.

Step 1: Soak 1 cup of dried chickpeas overnight. 

Step 2: Drain out the water in which the chickpeas soaked in.

Step 3: Add 2 cups of water and pressure cook the chickpeas. 

Step 4: Cool completely with the chickpeas still in their cooking liquid. 


Additional notes for cooking Aquafaba liquid



+ The Aquafaba liquid may look brown in color but when whipped it turns to a white color
+ Aquafaba does not taste like chickpeas in recipes.
+ The pressure cooker method is best. If you choose to cook your dried chickpeas over the stove, you will end up with more liquid and it will not have the consistency needed for Aquafaba and will not work in recipes.

Buy the items you need to make Aquafaba



Make sure to Pin this recipe so you can make it later!




Homemade Aquafaba Made In The Pressure Cooker

Homemade Aquafaba Made In The Pressure Cooker

Yield: 2 Cups
Author:
A vegan egg substitute that is basically the liquid from cooking chickpeas. This chickpea cooking liquid can be used in many vegan recipes like whip cream and scrambled eggs.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup dried chickpeas or garbanzo beans
  • 2 cups of water

Instructions:

How to cook Homemade Aquafaba Made In The Pressure Cooker

  1. Soak the chickpeas in overnight in water, completely submerged
  2. Drain and rinse out the soaked chickpeas
  3. Then add 2 cups of water and the soaked chickpeas into the pressure cooker and cook on the bean setting or 40 minutes on high. Cool completely with the chickpeas still in their cooking liquid.
  4. Drain out the cooking liquid into a bowl and let it cool to room temperature. The liquid should be a light brown color and slightly thick.
  5. Refrigerate for 1-2 weeks in a clean, air-tight container.
Created using The Recipes Generator
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Mom knows best