Hocking Hills meets The Walking Dead

I spent the weekend in a cabin in Hocking Hills with friends. 

a little road trip selfie and an amazing sunset

On one of our hikes, I was talking with my friend about how I think it's so easy to focus on trivial distractions in life and how getting back to nature reminds us of what's important. I'm not going to lie when I tell you this conversation came up while discussing The Walking Dead (with which I am ridiculously obsessed).

Ash Cave and Cockles Hollow Gorge Trail

This might come off sounding a bit out there, but I told her how I'm obsessed with post-apocalyptic books and movies because I think it is so interesting how society deals and how people show their true colors. As we were walking through the forest on this hike I told her how it would be interesting to have to revert back to a more simplistic lifestyle and start over like they had to do in The Walking Dead. Minus the zombies of course. That would be a major downer.

For the Good Times!

Old Man's Cave

Anyways, now I'm rambling, My whole point to this post was to say that

getting back to the basics, sitting with friends around a fire, waking up in a cabin surrounded by trees and the birds chirping, and cooking your breakfast over a fire ain't so bad. In fact, I would recommend everyone take a break every now and then and reconnect...

Old Man's Cave

Lucille

Yesterday would have been my nana's Lucille's 84th birthday. She passed away a little over a year ago. Some things that will always stay with me are the memories. Memories of quiet mornings as a little girl, sitting in her lap in the rocking chair and drinking coffee with her (yes I owe my coffee addiction to her), to her insistence upon serving you food that believe it or not, you do need one more scoop of food on your plate for good measure, to her spunky attitude and letting people know what was on her mind. She lives on in me with these memories. I miss her every day.

Love you nana....

Vegan Curried Chickpea Protein Bowl

No your eyes are not deceiving you. This IS indeed a new post. Only 2 years after my previous post. As you may have noticed. this little blog of mine has been redesigned and revamped. I'm sort of smitten.

To start this new post off, I would love to share with you all one of my new favorite recipes. As a vegan, I am always being asked where I get my protein. I also just started working out and lifting weights recently, so this has become my go-to meal for quick protein before a workout. Oh, have I mentioned that it's delicious?

So without further ado....

Vegan Curried Chickpea  Protein Bowl

Ingredients:

quinoa

chickpeas

olive oil

cucumber

red pepper

zucchini

jicama 

celery

Guacamole:

2 avocados

1/4 juice of lime

diced jalapeno

1/4 red onion

2 TBS cilantro

salt & pepper to taste

Spices:

Cumin

curry powder

chipotle pepper

sea salt

Preheat oven to 400F. Prepare chickpeas by rinsing them in strainer and pour into mixing bowl. Coat with 1 TBS olive oil. Season with spices (as much or as little as you prefer). Bake for 15 minutes then toss around in sheet and bake for another 5-10 minutes or until golden brown. While baking the chickpeas, prepare your quinoa. While quinoa is cooking, dice veggies. I preferred mine raw, but you can always steam or stirfry them. The prep your guacamole. Combine it all in one big bowl and enjoy! 

I'm so excited to bring you all more recipes and fun posts, so keep an eye out!