Wednesday, February 12, 2014

MOCK TUNA SALAD

Alright, I've taken an unplanned hiatus from my blog, but I'm back!! Between the holiday's and getting my students ready for Dance Competition season, time got away from me! I've still been experimenting and cooking up a storm though, don't you worry! I have a bunch of yummy recipes lined up, and ready to share with all of you!
I don't really make "resolutions", but I do make a list of things/goals that I want to achieve, and lifestyle changes that I want to make to better myself and grow as a person. One of the things I chose this year is to significantly pay off a lot of my debt. To aid in doing that, I have chosen not to eat any meals out, or pick-up and food for a quick lunch/dinner. Every weekday I go to yoga, then head straight to the studio, where I quickly eat before I start teaching my classes for the night. Usually, I would pack lunch half of the time, and the other half, I would run into Whole Foods or Trader Joe's and pick up something lite. That was starting to add up, and although it would take up a bit more of my time, I made the decision to make, and pack, a healthy lunch for myself daily. Well, it's been a month and a half, and I haven't eaten out once, and have packed ALL of my lunches! Once you get into the groove of doing something, it becomes part of your lifestyle, and doing anything else seems wrong. I'm excited to continue on this journey, and to see the ripple effect down the line, financially.
All of that being said, I have had to be very creative in the kitchen finding things that were satisfying, filling, yummy, nutritious and protein packed. The recipe I am sharing with you now has risen to be one of my favorites, and is super easy to make! There are plenty of "tun-no" "mock tuna" recipes out there, but I tweaked some of the more classic versions and found one that I'm in love with, and pretty sure that you will be too!

MOCK TUNA SALAD
(Makes about 3-4 Sandwiches)

*1 can Organic garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
*1/4 C roughly chopped yellow onion
*2 TBS sweet relish
*1 TBS Dijon mustard
*1/4 C Vegan Mayo (I use Veganaise, to me nothing compares)
*2 TBS raw hemp hearts
*1 TBS nutritional yeast
*1-2 TBS EACH of fresh dill and parsley
*Cayenne pepper, to taste
*1/2 tsp Himalayan pink salt
*Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Step 1:
Throw everything into your food processor



























Step 2:
Process until smooth-ish, stopping to scrape down the sides every 5-10 seconds. I like mine pretty processed, but you can keep it chunkier if you please.

























Step 3:
EAT!!
There are so many ways to enjoy your mock tuna salad. My top two are scooped into butter or romaine lettuce leaves, and eaten with avocado (duh!) and cherry tomatoes, or on toasted sourdough with lettuce and tomato! I've also eaten it with crackers and crudites......and maybe just by the spoonful....SHHHHH!




































Give it a try, and let me know what YOUR favorite way to eat my Mock Tuna Salad is!
Enjoy!