Juicy Smoked Chickpea Burger (vegan with gluten free options)

It’s pretty much summer, and with summer comes my desire to be anywhere but the kitchen. It’s too hot to have the oven on and I would much rather be outside. However, even in summer, my husband appreciates warm meals (unlike me, who could just live off of smoothies, salads and popsicles all summer).

Since I prefer minimal time in the hot kitchen on hot days, I have been getting creative with summer meals. Burgers have always been a favourite, so it was only natural I figure out some ways to make a good patty. There were several versions I enjoyed, and I'll share the chickpea version with you today!

When it comes to vegan burgers, I’ve had really good ones and really bad ones. One of the really good ones occurred when we went out to eat with some friends a few months ago. It was so delicious, and I don’t even know what it was made of. All I knew, was that it had this perfect smokey taste and just the right amount of BBQ sauce. It was on my mind for days, and I had to reinvent it.

On a side note, we've been clearing out our cupboards getting ready for a busy summer and a move, so I just went right there. I had a can of chickpeas, and I decided that was what my burger was going to be made of. 

By the way, I do enjoy making my beans from scratch now though!

Related: How to Cook Garbanzo Beans 3 Ways (Chickpeas)

It took several tries. I learned very quickly that I had to make sure it wouldn't crumble, and since we don't use eggs, it was a bit of a challenge with attempts I'd made in the past. I figured beans would help a lot with that, and was I ever right! With the oats and veggies in there, the texture was great - and the BBQ sauce....oh, the BBQ sauce...

Topped with some fried onion, a slice of vegan "cheese," and some fresh veggies, it's seriously delicious. 

The best part about these, are that they're light, and don't leave us feeling groggy and gross.

Juicy Smoked Chickpea Burger

what you need:

• 15 oz. can chickpeas (or 1 1/2 cups if using cooked), drained and rinsed

• Half Cup Rolled Oats

• 3 TBSP BBQ Sauce

• ½ Onion, Finely Diced

• 1 Small Zucchini, Grated and dried well

• ½ Small Carrot, Grated

• About 1 tsp each: Salt, Cumin, Smoked Paprika

• 3 Cloves Garlic, Minced

• 2 tsp Olive Oil

what to do:

1) If using canned beans, drain and rinse well. Mash coarsely in a bowl with a fork. 

2) Add the rest of your ingredients and seasonings and mix very well. Your mixture should not be too wet, but wet enough to form. 

3) Shape the patties in your hand and lightly brown in heated fry pan. 

4) Serve as a plain patty, or put in a bun (gluten-free if needed) and top with your favourite burger toppings (we love vegan cheese, lettuce, tomato, and fried onions). Enjoy!

Note: These freeze and reheat well. 

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What is your favourite thing to eat in the summer?

Let me know if you try out this burger by using the hashtag #MapleAlps! I love seeing what everyone comes up with! 

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Women of Intention Week Six: Fitness

Welcome to week six of the series, Women of Intention! Over the next fifteen weeks, Maple Alps will feature a woman who will talk about intentionality in specific areas in her life. So glad you've decided to stop by! For more information, and a list of topics, visit our introduction post HERE. 

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This Week's Intentional Woman:

Today, we meet Emma of I'm His Little: An awesome community for believers and non believers alike to come to learn and converse.

As you will soon find out, Emma (a fellow Canadian!) leads an exciting life with her husband and is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to child birth! Today, she'll be talking to us about one of her passions: fitness! Be sure to check out her website and share this post when you're done!

Find Emma on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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Tell Us A Bit About Yourself: What are your passions, work and interests?

My name is Emma Messner, and I am newly married to my wonderful husband, Jordan. I am a Canadian, born and raised on the West Coast in Alberta and British Columbia. I now live in Washington State with my husband who was born and raised in Ohio.

I work in the birth community, as I feel that God has called me to serve childbearing women. I serve pregnant and labouring women with their transition into motherhood by playing a role as their Birth and Postpartum Doula. I am currently working towards my certification as a Childbirth Educator, and a Prenatal Fitness Instructor.

I am a former Competitive Figure Skater meets Powerlifter, and I love both sports because they’ve taught me so much in my lifetime. I love to bake, cook, and knit. I enjoy reading--but only when the book is enjoyable. ;)

How do you approach the subject of fitness intentionally? Is it just about having a fit body, or is it more than that? Do you think fitness or being fit is necessary for everyone?

I love being asked this question, because it’s an opportunity to share my faith and also share one of my deepest passions. I started taking my fitness seriously about two and a half years ago when was forced to quit skating due to a torn labrum, which resulted in hip surgery. When I was healed from my surgery my focus changed.  I wanted to worship Jesus with my body and take care of the body that Christ died for.

The way I see it is that we have one body. God has entrusted us with that one body to care for, and I want to do that to the best of my ability.

I do sincerely believe that fitness is necessary for everyone--believers or non believers, because we have one body to live with. Taking care of your body is vital, and staying fit comes with a multitude of benefits. It’s much more than aesthetics, but if that’s what gets you to the gym, then go for it!

So I know you’re into powerlifting. Could you tell us a bit about why you’ve chosen this sport and some philosophy behind it? Would you recommend it?

I explored the different avenues of weightlifting and where it could take me, and I decided that Powerlifting was the best sport for me. I looked into Bodybuilding, but with my competitive figure skating background, I needed more the typical Bikini or Figure Competitors.

Powerlifting is about being the strongest you can be in your weight class. There’s no significant bulking or cutting in Powerlifting, for the most part. Powerlifting is about finding the strength that your body can take and growing from there. It wasn’t until about 8 months ago that I started lifting heavier. I didn’t even know that I truly wanted to be a Powerlifter until about 3 months ago, when I settled into Washington State and my hubby and I were able to work-out consistently with each other. With a background in Exercise Science, and a Strength and Conditioning Coach resume, my husband was able to guide me into the transition of powerlifting. Needless to say, I’m so thankful for his expertise because I wouldn’t be where I am without him.

I would definitely recommend powerlifting, but I know that in all honesty, not everyone (especially women) desires deadlifting 300+lbs. However, I would recommend Powerlifting to someone who wants to weight lift and wants to be strong more than they desire aesthetics. With that said however, aesthetics will come to the Powerlifter who eats reasonably healthy. It’s just the nature of the sport.

What would you say to encourage someone who is struggling with intentionality in this area of their life?

It’s a very common area that people struggle with. I used to be that person that hated going to the gym. Maybe that will never change for some, because God created us all very differently. It’s always helpful to have an accountability partner, and my partner is my husband. We push, encourage, and motivate each other, and we’re always there when the other needs a spotter! A work-out partner is an awesome way to hold yourself accountable because two is always better than one (Ecclesiastes 4:9,10).

I would ask them why they believe (or don’t believe) that health and fitness is essential to their daily lives. Then, I would ask them what their goals are towards their health and fitness, and what they see their future looking like if they don’t start intentionally living a healthy lifestyle.

I would encourage them to not look so much into themselves, but look upwards, and remember what their purpose is in this lifetime. We were called for something so much bigger than ourselves. 

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What about you? Do you intentionally approach fitness? Inspired by Emma's story? Why don't you tell us about it in the comments, and connect with us on social media?

(Don't forget to use the hashtag #WomenOfIntention16 so no one misses it!)

Vegan Pad Thai

A few days ago, the Mister and I were discussing what ethnic foods were our favourite. We talk about food a lot. Since we don’t eat out a lot, we’ve (or should I say I) have been experimenting with all sorts of recipes in an attempt to recreate some of our favourite ethnic dishes. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. 

We have quite the list of favourites that range over countries, but Thai was one of the ones on top. I've experimented with curries and rices and sauces and rolls, but today I'll share the noodles!

I know you're dying to get to the recipe but do please read the next paragraph for an explanation.

Update: in case you're confused about the Pinterest images not matching, it's because I've updated the images! It's still the same delicious Pad Thai though!

I called this recipe 'Thai-inspired,' because there is nothing truly authentic in it - no tamarind, no fish sauce... I pretty much took what was in my kitchen and mixed it all together. It's 'basically pad thai,' because it tastes pretty much like (do I dare say better than?) pad thai we've had out. 

It took several tries before I could confidently say I hit the nail on the head. And I think I finally have. I'll have to go to Thailand before I can decide for certain though!

It's pretty much as good as going out - not to mention making it saves us money. 

Tofu roasted in the oven makes this extra delicious. I like to over-cook it just a tad so it’s a bit chewy. Don’t ask. It’s a texture thing.

The vegetables add a pretty rainbow of flavour and colour to the rice noodles. Delicious. The only tragedy for this particular plate was that I was out of cilantro. Still tasted fantastic without it, but it would have been even better with it! Topping it with chopped peanuts was necessary - unless you're allergic to nuts, don't skip it!

Also, I never claimed to be a food photographer, or recipe writer so please bear (bare? bair?) with me. ;-)

For the Noodles:

8oz Flat Brown Rice Noodles
1 Carrot, Sliced thinly (I used the vegetable peeler to make strips)
Red Cabbage, sliced thinly
Half of each: Red and Orange pepper, Sliced thinly
14 oz Extra Firm Tofu, diced
Green Onion, chopped
Dash of Salt, Olive Oil, & Paprika
Optional Toppings: Fresh Cilantro, Fresh Lime and Peanuts

For the Sauce:

Juice of One Lime
4 TBSP Soy Sauce or Braggs (I use a combination sometimes)
3 ½ TBSP Brown Sugar
1 Clove Garlic, minced
Optional: Splash of Siracha Sauce

What to Do:

1) Dice tofu and add a dash of salt, olive oil and paprika. Evenly space it on a baking tray that is lined with parchment. Insert in oven preheated to 425 degrees F. Roast for 15 minutes, turn, and roast for another 15 minutes
2) Meanwhile, boil some water to soak the noodles in. Once boiled, remove pot from stove and put the noodles in to soak for at least ten minutes.
3) Prepare your sauce in a small bowl - add all ingredients and mix well. Set aside.
4) Add green onion whites and sliced vegetables to your pan with a touch of coconut oil. Cook a few minutes until soft. 
5) Add the rice noodles to the pan with the vegetables. Stir in the prepared sauce and allow to simmer.
6) By now, the tofu should be done. Add to the pan and toss gently, but well.
7) If you like, you can add some peanuts for extra yumminess! 
8) Serve right away - top with fresh cilantro, green onion, chopped peanuts, and fresh lime.

Best fresh.

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Stay tuned for more favourites coming up but until then: What is your favourite ethnic food?

PS: The Creamiest and Dreamiest Vegan Mac n Cheese Here!

Women of Intention Week Five: Motherhood

Welcome to another week (week five) of the series, Women of Intention! Maple Alps is featuring a woman who will talk about intentionality in specific areas in her life over the next fifteen weeks. So glad you've decided to stop by! For more information, and a list of topics, visit our introduction post HERE. 

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This week's Intentional Woman:

Today, we are going to hear from Gina of Holding the Distaff. 

I enjoyed getting to know Gina, and hearing all about her adventures in motherhood and the passion she has for homeschooling her children and teaching them important life values and lessons. I'm certain you will enjoy getting to know her too!

Once you're done reading, be sure to not only check out her blog, Holding the Distaff, but also share your thoughts (and if you want, the post too!).

Find Gina on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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Tell us a bit about yourself: What are your passions, work and interests?

I'm a stay-at-home/work-at-home mom of three kids, ages 3, 5 and 6 ½. I wear many hats: managing our home, writing and editing, homeschooling and being involved in our church and community.

I'm most passionate about helping the people in my life find purpose and meaning—hence my blog's tagline, "inspiration in the everyday." There are a lot of practical ways I do this, including writing, volunteering, having people in our home, or just enjoying deep conversations over coffee.

How do you practice intentionality in your life as a mother?

It's funny you use the word "intentionality" because up until a few years ago I would have had no idea what that meant. But being a mother has forced me to think about the concept frequently. Am I just coasting along this parenting journey, hoping everything turns out okay (Okay, yes sometimes!)? Or do I plan our days thoughtfully and parent with purpose? I think we'd all like to practice the latter.

One challenging decision I wrestled with recently as a mother was whether we should homeschool. My husband was homeschooled from kindergarten through twelfth grade, and when I met him I didn't even know that was a thing. Frankly, it seemed weird. But over the years he convinced me to give it a shot. And now, two years into it, we love it. It helps me to be intentional because I have so many opportunities to spend quality time with my kids. We have great conversations, explore together and simply enjoy the act of learning. It's a natural extension of my parenting.

I'll add that being intentional as a parent doesn't mean you have to plan out every waking hour with meaningful life lessons. It does mean you have an end-goal in mind when you're living out your life day to day. I want my kids to love God, to be compassionate, to be responsible stewards, and to pursue their passions whole-heartedly. Homeschooling gives us a lot of opportunity to explore these things.

What is the hardest part of being a mother? The easiest? The most rewarding?

The hardest part (and probably every mom will tell you this) is that you never get time off. Even when I get that sacred hour or two away apart from them, I'm thinking about those rascals. Your body, mind and soul permanently belong to these other little beings.

The easiest part is loving up on them. I'm not a very physically affectionate person, but for the most part I could snuggle with my babies for hours (except when they're squirmy and it's 3 a.m.). 

The most rewarding part is watching in awe as these little people grow and blossom into big people. They are each so uniquely beautiful in multiple ways, and I marvel at them daily. 

How would you say intentionality as a mother has affected other areas of your life?

Intentionality in motherhood has helped me see that the little moments count. It might not seem like I'm doing much when I spend my days changing diapers and wiping noses, but then I blink and my babies are growing into incredible little people and thriving. I realize that all those seemingly insignificant moments are quite powerful when added together. The same applies to my marriage, my relationships and my work. If I can just keep working at the little things, I will eventually see big changes.

What would you say to encourage a mother who is struggling with intentionality in this area of her life?

Several things. First, take some time and think about what your end goals are with your parenting. What kinds of people do you want your children to be? A lot of Christians say they just want their kids to be faithful—but what does a faithful life look like? Think about this, pray about it and write it down.

Second, remember that we all have days when we feel like we are barely keeping our heads above water, especially when we have little babies. We can't find matching socks let alone try to have some sort of vision for our parenting. Don't worry, those days will pass. But if you're past the baby stage and you're still struggling, ask yourself if you have enough breathing room in your schedule. Do you have downtime with your kids, opportunities to have great conversations? Those are the times when the rubber hits the road in your parenting. Sometimes they're planned, but more often they're not. Make space to just be with your kids.

Lastly, just rely on God's word, the Bible, and pray for and with your kids daily. I think of Deuteronomy 6:4–9, which paints a picture of how a family that follows God is constantly saturated in his commandments. If you want to raise kids to be lifelong believers, you have to model what that looks like. Start with your own faith walk, and then share it with them. Are siblings arguing—or are you arguing? Talk about what Jesus said about serving one another in John 13:1–17. Have them pray for each other. Are they having bad attitudes about doing chores? Talk about what Jesus said about "going the extra mile" in Matthew 5:41. These truths in scripture are more powerful than any clever thoughts we can pull together on our own. The more we lean on God, the more natural it is to be intentional.

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What about you? Are you a mother intentional about motherhood? Why don't you tell us about it in the comments, and connect with us on social media?

(Don't forget to use the hashtag #WomenOfIntention16 so no one misses it!)

DIY Wonder Ointment

This past Winter proved a challenge for my skin. When temperatures drop, I'm prone to dry skin, but this year was unlike any other. My entire throat area became a dry, and later sore and itchy mess, and I seriously contemplated going to a dermatologist. I've done so in the past, but since I'm new to the area (and country!), I decided to see if I could help it on my own. I don't always advise this, but I made an exception because it just looked like severely dry skin. 

Enter: this homemade wonder ointment. I had been putting vitamin E oil on my throat and it seemed to have been improving at least the dryness, but I wanted to add essential oils that would heal and help any possible scarring. Putting on 5 billion different things all after the other didn't make any sense to me, so I decided to put together this salve. 

This post contains affiliate links.

I used Frankincense and Lavender because of their awesome healing properties. They also smell great - in my opinion. Lavender, for one, can help with scarring and Frankincense, among a ton of other amazing things can be good for soothing dry and chapped skin as well as scarring. Seriously, I could write whole posts about these amazing oils, but I'll spare you today. Just today though. Just know that I was in desperation - chapped skin is NOT fun.

I put this in a 4oz jelly jar, but I am also considering putting some in a small travel-size tin so I can take it with me everywhere! Since I travel so much, I do usually try to save space and pack minimally.

EDIT: I put some of this in a travel-sized pill box thing, and it works amazingly!

Using this twice a day, my skin cleared up very quickly. I seriously wish I had taken before/after pictures, it worked so well! It actually worked SO well, that I decided to share how I made it with all of you today. This has worked wonders for my dry and chapped skin. 

I might also mention here, that I upped my water intake (which I should have done sooner), and I think that helped as well. Lately, I've been putting the ointment on my face before bed and using it as a night cream. Why not, right?

DIY Wonder Ointment

What You Need:

• 2 1/2 TBSP Beeswax

• 1/4 cup Coconut Oil

• 1/2 Cup Sweet Almond Oil

• 1 tsp Vitamin E Oil

• 2 TBSP Shea Butter

• 10 Drops Frankincense Essential Oil

• 10 Drops Lavender Essential Oil

What to Do:

1) Melt the beeswax using double boiler on LOW heat. It will probably take about 15 minutes for it to melt completely.

2) Add sweet almond oil, coconut oil and shea butter and allow to melt.

3) Remove from heat and add essential oils and vitamin E oil.

4) Allow to harden - I got impatient and put it in the fridge to harden quicker!

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I love, love, love this! The production of this ointment has inspired a lot of other home products - you know I'm already concocting my next DIY! I really don't know why I never started doing these things myself in the first place. Nothing I ever bought has soothed and helped my dry skin this well before, so I'm glad I tried. 

You know what I use now, but what do you use to soothe your dry skin? I want to know, so comment below!