The Varying Value of a Dollar

How is that I can spend money so easily in some ways, but then in other ways, I am the Queen Stingy.

Like, Target dollars? Don’t count.

Haircut dollars? I clip the Fantastic Sam’s coupons from the receipts at the grocery store.

J. Crew dollars? Super cute stuff demands to be bought.

Car care dollars? I clip the mechanic coupons from the receipts at the grocery store.

Cute workout gear? Well if I intend to wear it a hundred times I can justify the hundred dollars.

Our energy bill? I clip the coupons from the….wait. Why aren’t there any coupons for the energy company?

I do not like using the air conditioner for a few reasons, jacked up energy bill being just one. I tend to be cold 99% of the time, so a warm house is just my thing. The warmer weather we’ve been having lately is awesome. Grilling? Yes please. Have you ever grilled chickpeas? Cah-razy. Obviously you’re gonna need some sort of grill pan that does not have huge holes to it. We’ve had this bad boy for a few years and even though it’s looking a little worse for the wear, it does the trick just fine.

Greek Chickpea Pitas with Cucumber Slaw

2 cucumbers, washed and coarsely grated

1 red onion, thinly sliced

½ cup plain Greek yogurt

¼ teaspoon minced garlic

1 small can black olives, rinsed and drained (optional)

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 lemons

1 sprig fresh dill, chopped (about 1 tablespoon)

Salt and pepper

2 cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained

8 whole wheat pitas

Using a few paper towels, soak up excess moisture from grated cucumbers. Combine cucumbers, red onion, Greek yogurt, minced garlic, olives, dill, and pinch of salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Add juice of one lemon. Stir until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to eat.

Heat up grill to medium heat. In a separate bowl, combine chickpeas, olive oil, juice of the other lemon, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir until chickpeas are well coated. Set grill pan on burner, pour chickpeas into pan. Close the grill lid and cook for ~10 minutes. Stir chickpeas, continue cooking until golden browned and starting to char. Remove from grill.

Serve one scoop of grilled chickpeas with one scoop of cucumber slaw in a pita.