Curried Sweet Potato Pita Pockets

Hi guys! Today I have an AWESOME recipe for you guys; these Curried Potato Pita Pockets are one of my favourite recipes ever! They’re super quick and easy to make, plus they pack in SO much flavour and freshness. Sweet potatoes are life my friends, so they had to be included in this recipe too. I was inspired by a veggie samosa wrap by VeganRicha, but I changed and simplified the recipe and it turned out great! The sweet potatoes are roasted with some red bell peppers in cumin and curry powder, then mashed a bit and paired with a fresh cilantro-y bean salad in a warm pita. Basically, my dreams in a pocket of bread. These pitas make great leftovers to, and will definitely be one of my go-to lunch recipes when I’m back at school. Enjoy the recipe;)

Curried Sweet Potato Pita Pockets

Serves: 3

Total Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 large sweet potato or yam
  • 1/2 a red bell pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp curry powder
  • 1 tsp +1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 can of red kidney beans, drained and rinsed (chickpeas or black beans can be used in a pinch)
  • 1/4 cup packed cilantro leaves
  • 1/4 of a red onion, diced
  • 1 tomato, diced
  • Juice of 1/2 a lemon
  • 3 whole wheat pitas
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (after 200 posts I finally managed to spell Fahrenheit right the first time!)
  2. Peel the sweet potato and cut it into very small cubes, a little less than a centimetre in size. Chop the bell pepper into the same sized cubes and place the veggies on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  3. Toss the veggies in the olive oil, curry powder, 1 tsp of cumin and some salt and pepper. Place the pan into the oven and roast for about 20-25 minutes, until the sweet potatoes and peppers are soft.
  4. Meanwhile, toss the red kidney beans, tomato, red onion, cilantro, 1/2 tsp of cumin and lemon juice together in a bowl and set aside.
  5. Once the veggies are roasted, remove them from the oven and transfer to a large bowl. Use a fork to mash the mixture, leaving some sweet potato chunks whole.
  6. Warm up the pitas in the microwave and cut or rip them in half. Open up each half so that it forms a pocket, and scoop equal amounts of the roasted veggies and bean salad into them.
  7. Enjoy!

Hope you guys love this recipe as much as I do! Thank you for reading and I’ll see you on Friday;))

Yours Truly,

Olivia;)

Stuffed Pepper Stew

Hey there! Hope you’re all doing well;)) I find that cooking is a great way to stay busy, so I’ve been trying to at least plan out new recipes every day. I wanted to make stuffed peppers, because they’re so comforting and delicious. But it turns out that I only had one big pepper, and two mini ones. Here’s where some quarantine problem solving comes in! This Stuffed Pepper Stew combines all of the flavours of a stuffed pepper, but in stew form. It’s so good and uses super simple ingredients! It actually might be better than a stuffed pepper, because it reminds me of an amazing Hungarian pepper dish that my Mom and Grandma make. Plus, there’s lots of protein in there from lentils. I also used some soy sauce to boost the savoury flavour, which is a trick I learned from The Stingy Vegan. All the veggies get simmered in a delicious broth that’s loaded with herbs and spices, and it’ll make your house smell really good;)) This stew is also one of those things that tastes better the next day, because all of the flavours sit together overnight. Check out the recipe down below;))

Stuffed Pepper Stew

Serves: 4

Total Time: 90 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 bell peppers, any colour, chopped
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced
  • 1 sprig of oregano, finely chopped (or 1/2 tbsp dried oregano)
  • 1/2 tbsp basil
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 tsp allspice
  • 1/2 cup green lentils
  • 1 can of diced tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp of tomato paste
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot. Add in the onion and cook until translucent, about 6 minutes.
  2. Add in the peppers and garlic, and cook for another six minutes until the peppers are soft.
  3. Dump the diced tomatoes, spices, soy sauce, herbs, and lentils into the pot and stir until combined. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn the heat to low and simmer for about an hour, until the lentils have cooked through.
  4. Once the lentils are cooked, stir through the tomato paste and season with salt and pepper.
  5. Enjoy with rice, quinoa, some bread, or by itself!

Keep cooking and creating!

Yours Truly,

MyDayIsBooked

Spiced Carrot Falafel

Hey there! I’m starting to feel a bit of cabin fever, but I’m trying to keep busy and positive;) Cooking is a really great way to do that, and today I have a great recipe that’s freezable and super versatile. These spiced carrot falafel are super flavourful and easy to make! I like eating them with hummus in their own or in bowls, and they’d also be great in wraps or in pasta dishes. Maybe I could even make a sandwich with them… veggie sandwiches are amazing😍😍 Hope you like this recipe!!

Spiced Carrot Falafel

Serves: Makes 12 falafel

Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

Ingredients:

  • 1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp chilli powder
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp coriander
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup shredded carrots

Directions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. In a blender or food processor, blend the chickpeas, garlic and all of the spices until smooth and combined.
  3. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the shredded carrots.
  4. Scoop out a tablespoon of the falafel mixture and form into a flat disc, and place onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat until you have about 12-15 falafels.
  5. Place the falafels in the oven, and let bake for 15 minutes before removing the pan and flipping them over. Bake for another 15-20 minutes on the other side.
  6. Remove the pan from the oven and let the falafel cool completely before enjoying;)

I wrote a list in my bullet journal of ways to keep busy during this time, and so I’ll try to share it in my Instagram page soon;) For now, stay safe and hang in there!

Yours Truly,

MyDayIsBooked;))

Butternut Squash Hummus

This first week of staying at home has been alright, although I’m finding it a bit harder than I thought to stay disciplined and be productive. However, I haven’t gotten very antsy yet, so that’s good. Hummus is a great “I’m trapped at home snack” because you can eat it with pretty much everything- veggies, pretzels, rice cakes, bowls, sandwiches, etc- and it’s something to make when you’re bored😂😂 This hummus uses frozen butternut squash, which I defrosted. I’m really into this frozen stuff because you can just throw it in a pot with some water and it’s done in like 5 minutes, whereas cooking it from scratch would take waaay longer. I also used two cloves of garlic because I love my garlic, but you can use one if you’d prefer. The people who you’re hanging out with at home all day will thank you for your less garlicky breath if you just use one. But I mean, if you really need to enforce social distancing, go ahead and use two. Either way, make this hummus right now because it hits the spot!!

Butternut Squash Hummus

Serves: 4

Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 tbsp cumin
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen butternut squash
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Add the butternut squash with a cup of water into a pot and bring to a boil, then simmer for about 5 minutes until soft. Drain and set aside.
  2. Blend all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor until you are left with a smooth, delicious hummus. Enjoy!

Hope you like this recipe! Stay safe everyone;))

Yours Truly,

MyDayIsBooked;))

Chickpea, Quinoa and Avocado Salad

Hi guys! I hope you’re keeping busy and satying safe;)) Spring is almost here, and so I thought I’d make a fresher recipe today. This Chickpea, Quinoa and Avocado Salad is light and makes a great lunch👍👍 I used tri colour quinoa, which I discovered a year ago and it’s awesome. It’s usually the same price as regular quinoa, but it’s three different colours and looks super cool. Also, there’s soy sauce mixed in with the avo, which is one of my new favourite combos. Here’s the recipe:

Chickpea, Quinoa and Avocado Salad

Serves: 3

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup quinoa
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 a red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 tomato, diced
  • 1 avocado
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced
  • Juice of 1/2 a lime
  • 1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed

Directions:

  1. In a small pot, combine the quinoa and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until the water has evaporated, about 10-15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.
  2. In a small bowl, mash the avocado and add in the oil, lime, garlic, and salt sauce. Stir until combined.
  3. Mix together the chickpeas, tomatoes, and peppers in a large bowl. Add in the quinoa and mashed avocado and stir. Enjoy!

Keep cooking and stay creative my friends;)

Yours Truly,

MyDayIsBooked;))