Chickpea & Pistachio Salad

In my most recent efforts to eat healthier I am trying to eat more natural foods and increase my protein. The protein is a big deal for me because I am a vegetarian, so I have to watch my numbers to make sure I am getting enough...

This was simple to prepare, a delicious light, fresh-tasting salad! I love lemons though. I did not add all of the salt and I substituted white rice because I had a lot leftover from dinner the night before. I think I would prefer the brown rice, but then again I really like both.

I have no idea WHERE this recipe originated. It was scribbled down on a piece of notebook paper in my handwriting. I most likely copied it from a magazine I found in a doctors' office. That would be typical... enjoy!

Chickpea & Pistachio Salad

I Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 of a whole red onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. water
2 c. cooked long grain brown rice
1/2 c. cooked garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
1/4 c. shelled pistachios
2 Tbsp. parsley, chopped
1 whole lemon (you'll use the zest & the juice)
2 pinches salt

Saute' onion and garlic in the olive oil for 3-5 minutes. Add water and cook for 2 minutes longer. Add cooked rice and chickpeas, heat through. Remove from heat and add the pistachios and parsley. Stir in lemon zest and the lemon juice. Stir. Taste and add salt, if necessary.

Want to join a Book Club with me?

I'm joining an online book club that I thought some of you might be interested in. Check out THIS post on the blog Diapers and Divinty (Finding faith in Motherhood).


I really loved General Conference and thought this would be a great springboard for me to apply the talks one by one to my life... and to do additional study.

It's General Conference Time!!

I LOVE General Conference!! I've looked forward to it for months and have some fun activities planned for the family as we gather around the TV.

Perhaps you've seen some of these activities, but if not here are a few links to help make watching General Conference a bit easier with the kids...

lds.org has a few activities you can print off HERE: activity packets, Conference Squares (bingo)

HERE is a blog that I'm so glad I found with a few conference awards. I LOVE the caterpillar with multiple body parts to discuss the talks. I think we are going to do that for the overall message as conference is going along, we will take turns filling out the body circles. It is very adorable. The testimony growing flowers are super cute too! I am loving preparednotscared.blogspot.com

One spot to always find a bunch of fun ideas regarding most anything is sugardoodle.net. I use it all the time to help me prepare my Primary lessons that I teach on Sundays. HERE is a general search on General Conference at sugardoodle. The personalized magic carpets are a brilliant idea to keep little ones still. There are activity packets for multiple age groups here.

WHAT WE ARE DOING: I combined parts from a packet for youth and senior primary packet to keep my kids on their toes listening to the talks in an active way. I also am doing one of the bingo games and letting them use Jelly Beans as markers. When they here a specific word (like prayer, missionary work, pioneer, etc... ) they mark the square. I also thought that I would start to have a few traditional foods for Conference.