The Inaugural Lunch Bunch Luncheon

I want to thank all my wonderful friends who came to the Inaugural Lunch Bunch yesterday.  It was truly so much fun!  And to those friends who couldn't come, we missed you!  But never fear!  If you missed it, we still have the recipes for you to try on your own!  But sadly, {as I hang my head down in shame} I forgot to take pictures.  Next time I make any of these, I will try to remember to snap a pic and update it.

The Fabulous Menu

The Becaninni

• Multigrain roll, or bread of choice
• Roasted red pepper hummus
• Spinach leaves
• Sun dried tomatoes
• Artichoke hearts

Assemble ingredients in a sandwich fashion.

Fruit Salad {Yummy, yummy!}

• Plain yogurt or kefir, enough to coat fruit
• Chopped apple
• Chopped grapes
• Chopped dates
• Orange or tangerine, squeezed

Combine in bowl and cover with as much yogurt or kefir as you like.

 Quick and Easy Tomato Soup
{and Food Storage-able too!}

• 1 ½ c cooked or 15.5 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 14.5 oz can crushed or diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice {or from a bottle if you want to be able to store it}
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup plain unsweetened soy milk {can come in a shelf stable box if you want to store it}
• Salt
• Ground cayenne
• 2 tbsp minced fresh cilantro or parley, for garnish

In high speed blender, combine chickpeas and garlic and process until finely ground.  Add tomatoes, cumin, lemon juice, oil, ½ the soy milk and salt and cayenne to taste.  Blend until smooth.  Add as much of remaining soy milk as needed to achieve desired consistency--not too thin, not too thick -- blend until smooth and creay.  Taste and adjust seasonings to taste.

Transfer to large saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring, until hot, about 5 mins.
Garnish with cilantro or parsley.

Rawesome Peppermint Brownies

• 1 c. almonds ground into flour
• ½ cup agave nectar
• ½ cup cold pressed coconut butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• Blend together.
• Slowly incorporate:
• ½ cup cacao
• 8 drops Peppermint essential oil

Do not over mix or heat.  Pour into a square pan and let set in freezer. Stores in freezer or refrigerator. Serves 16 1” square pieces of brownie.

 We will be meeting again soon and next time we will be focusing solely on healthy holiday treats! 

I will post more info soon with the links to some of the books and info I had if any of you want to check them out.  So start experimenting and I can't wait to taste all the healthy holiday goodness you are going to make!

And never fear, if you can't make it, or want to join in on our fun, we will post a linky so you can blog it and link it up for everyone to enjoy along with you!

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The Becanini Sandwich was featured in The Holistic Kitchen Cookbook available on Amazon. I'm so honored to be included. Go check it out!