Welcome to week three of the Menu Planning Challenge!
We did well making our four meals this week, and had enough food for two “leftover” evenings. I also made several kinds of cookie dough balls for snacks and healthy desserts.
I’ve been making variations of my peanut butter-oat balls… I like to add a couple teaspoons of cocoa powder for a chocolate no-bake ball, and roll it in coconut. I tried some with pumpkin this weekend, and made a batch of Chickpea cookie dough balls. My husband couldn’t guess the main ingredient, although he knows me, so he wasn’t surprised. 
They were yummy! If you are used to sweet desserts, add a little more sweetener to taste.
Chickpea Cookie Dough Balls
- 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1/4 c. maple syrup
- 2 heaping Tbsp nut butter
- 1/4 c. oats
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/3 c. dark chocolate chips
- (optional for chocolate version) 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
Combine all ingredients (except chocolate chips) in the food processor until smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips. Roll into balls and place on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes, or until set.
We’ll be making more of these soon! Here’s what else we’re making this week:
We’re making this crock pot black beans recipe, and will use Lisa’s peanut sauce for Tuesday’s noodles. The homemade fish sticks are a recipe from Cooking Light, and the Jambalaya is an old recipe favorite as well. Our challenge for the week was to incorporate acorn squash somehow, which I neglected to do. I’ll roast one alongside our veggies Wednesday night.
This week’s prize is a box from Daily Dose of Green. Each month, their boxes contain samples of all sorts of eco-friendly goodies, from new food products to skin care. To enter the giveaway, use the Rafflecopter below:
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Last week’s winner was … Nancy. Congrats!
I’m a big fan of leftover evenings! Quick. Easy. And yummy
Jill @ Fitness, Health and Happiness recently posted..Week 3 What’s For Dinner Menu Planning
Me, too! Love leftover evenings. I try to use them on the super busy days when I have zero interest in cooking.
Laura recently posted..What’s for Dinner Menu Planning Link up- week 3
Ok, we are twins again! I’ve been on a major “ball” making spree this week.
I feel like I’m back in the swing of meal planning again. Thanks for hosting!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted..Meal Plan: Week of October 15
Yep, it’s kind of fun to be twins.
I feel like I’m back in a good routine, too. I definitely needed this challenge to get me on track!
Laura recently posted..What’s for Dinner Menu Planning Link up- week 3
I would love to try so many new recipes and especially “healthier” ones but then I end up with a lot of left overs b/c the kids take one bite and refuse to eat any more. I guess I have raised picky eaters? Sugary eaters? Not willing to change eaters?
(I am going to try the chickpea cookie balls though…I wld be curious to see what the peanut gallery says about them)
I understand… we’re hitting a pickier stage with L, too. I think some of it is definitely out of our control, no matter how hard we try!
But it’s healthier than the standard chocolate chip cookie.
I’d add a little extra honey or maple syrup to the cookie dough balls, if that’s what they’re used to. I have another cookie dough recipe that I was going to post this week as well, that uses butter and sugar, just less of it… so it tastes like the real deal because it is the real deal.
Laura recently posted..What’s for Dinner Menu Planning Link up- week 3
Great looking meal plan! Those peanut noodles are calling my name. I have some kelp noodles that may have to be drown in peanut sauce this week.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted..Strange But (Mostly) Good
I know… I’m excited about peanut noodles this week, too. Yes, drown those kelp noodles in it!
Laura recently posted..What’s for Dinner Menu Planning Link up- week 3
I so admire your planning of your meals like this! But, I confess, I am stuck on “cookie dough balls.” Yum!
Be sure to enter my playhouse giveaway for your little one!
Joann
Joann @ Woman in Real Life recently posted..Children’s Playhouse Giveaway!
Oh, yes, I need to! Thanks… heading over now.
Laura recently posted..What’s for Dinner Menu Planning Link up- week 3
I haven’t gotten my act together this morning to do my menu planning, but I will get it done today since I flaked out last week.
I love Daily Dose of Green
The peanut recipe sounds good – might need to incorporate that into my menu for the week. We have a nutty week with a mid-week birthday, so there probably won’t be much cooking.
Carrie@familyfitnessfood.com recently posted..Best Body Bootcamp
Good luck with your crazy week, Carrie!
Laura recently posted..What’s for Dinner Menu Planning Link up- week 3
I actually share meal planning with my mother in law and sister in law- just for dinner. We each cook 2-3 nights a week. We share our calendar on Google Drive.
It sure helps make life more organized!
OM goodness! That chickpea cookie recipe is crazy! I can’t wait to try it out. I am sneaking chickpeas into my kids this weekend
Raina recently posted..10k Time Trials, Redwood Trails and Thoughts Inbetween
Oh, wow- what a great idea! That would really help to simplify meal planing. Hope you like the cookies.
Laura recently posted..What’s for Dinner Menu Planning Link up- week 3
You know I love those chocolate/oat/coconut balls! Delicious! This week’s plan is a little boring but I will post it soon. Congratulations on the race this morning!
Thanks, Megan!
Laura recently posted..What’s for Dinner Menu Planning Link up- week 3
[...] you have it, dinner is planned. Be sure to check out the other menu plans (or link up your own!) at Mommy Run Fast! to see what else is for dinner this week around the blogosphere. There are many good ideas to be [...]
Hooray for homemade pizza Fridays!
And now that I am a fan of coconut, I will be making your latest no-bake ball version!
Candy @ Healthy In Candy Land recently posted..What’s For Dinner 3.0
I’m definitely ready for pizza this week! Yes- the coconut chocolate balls were so good.
Laura recently posted..What’s for Dinner Menu Planning Link up- week 3
Those oat balls looks yummy…I can barely track my workouts and eat semi clean so planning would be smart so I need to get on the train
Kat recently posted..Sunday’s Weekly Workouts + WINNERS!
You are welcome to join us anytime!
Laura recently posted..What’s for Dinner Menu Planning Link up- week 3
I love unexpected leftovers!!
I’ve never tried chickpeas in a sweet recipe, but I think this is the 2nd time I’ve seen that in like a week. So, I think that’s a sign 
.
Ali @ WHOLEistically Fit recently posted..Take Back Your Sunday With These Time-Saving Meal Planning Tips & Tricks! {Part One}
It must be a sign.
I’ve been trying it out lately– made a similar chickpea brownie recipe a few months ago that was also yummy. That recipe is on here, too!
Laura recently posted..What’s for Dinner Menu Planning Link up- week 3
I have to plan my menus each week – otherwise, dinnertime is too stressful once I come home from work with two hungry/cranky little ones. But for me, one of the nice benefits is often having leftovers to bring for lunch the next day, saving me the time of having to prepare lunches (one of my least favorite chores).
Jessica @ Keeping Mommy Sane recently posted..A Love Letter to LEGO
Yes! I agree about the leftovers… we almost always both have leftovers for lunch. It’s so much healthier than a typical packed lunch, too.
Laura recently posted..What’s for Dinner Menu Planning Link up- week 3
Thanks for the mention and hope you like my peanut sauce! I too am a fan of leftovers! I am going to try your chick pea recipe, I’ve added it to baked chocolate chip cookies but curious to try your version. YUM!
Lisa recently posted..Meal Plan Fall 2012 week 3
Your peanut sauce is similar to one we’ve made before, I’m sure we’ll like it.
The chocolate chips in the cookies are what really make them work!
Laura recently posted..What’s for Dinner Menu Planning Link up- week 3
mmm the pizza and fish sound so good! Can’t wait to see how they turned out!
Yes- the fish sticks are really simple, but much healthier than frozen fish sticks, which I’ve never actually bough for L. I’m hoping she (and we) like these!
Laura recently posted..What’s for Dinner Menu Planning Link up- week 3
Those balls look good, like your garbanzo brownies but in ball form. I can dig that! I like the brownies, so am looking forward to trying the balls as well. This weekend I made apple cake; it was delicious, but not very healthy, except that it had apples in it!
Travel Spot recently posted..My Bye Week
Oh, yum! We have an apple cake recipe like that… sooo delicious.
Laura recently posted..What’s for Dinner Menu Planning Link up- week 3
Those cookie dough balls sound wonderful! I’m so glad to be back in the habit of menu planning, it makes weeknights so much less stressful
Jen recently posted..Menu Planning 10/14 & Pizza Recipe
It is a little easier each week!
Maria @ Lil Mys Ninja recently posted..Meal Planning {10/14 – 10/20}
I made a big tofu stir-fry for last minute dinners, but I’ll probably stick to my huge dinner salads!
When I wrote my post, I thought I didn’t have much time to do extra food this week. However, a no-bake cookie recipe would be just the ticket! I think I have chickpea flour in the freezer that I could substitute since it’s all being mixed in the food processor.
If you have a moment, this is just the kind of healthy recipe we’d love to share at Motivation Monday on my main blog, A Life in Balance (http://alifeinbalance.net)
Barb @ Frugal Local Kitchen recently posted..roasted red pepper soup
Yes, no bake cookies are great when you’re time crunched! The recipe above does need to bake, but I also linked to my pb-oat balls which are no bake (and probably my favorite!) I’ll check out your other blog, thanks!
Laura recently posted..Space City Ten Miler- Race recap
Hi Laura, For the balls, did you use a small can of chickpeas (15 oz.) like the Eden organic or the larger size…and quick oats or larger flake oats…Thanks!
Joann @ Woman in Real Life recently posted..Sentimental Journey
I used a small can of chickpeas and either kind of oats would work. I’ll clarify that in the recipe later today!
Your nut balls sound awesome! I am a huge huge fan of menu planning, cant live without it!
Courtney recently posted..week three of vegan mofo!
[...] Chickpea Chocolate Chip Dough Balls [...]
I know I only posted once but I love reading through everyone’s menu. It totally helps to inspire my menu. I have still been consistently menu planning, just not blogging about it. I love that you guys are continuing with it!!!
Kelly recently posted..Marathon Recovery and Taper, What?
I have been doing great with meal planning. Seeing everyone else’s plans helps out a lot. I always steal ideas from everyone
Kristen@Change of Pace recently posted..Meal Plan #3
this time of year, it’s all about what we can do in the crock pot! agreed.
lindsay recently posted..Motivate the Moment Monday
[...] Chickpea Cookie Dough Balls (there are also a ton of other options for dough balls here as well!) [...]
[...] 4. Chickpea Cookie Dough Balls from Mommy Run Fast [...]
LOVED the chickpea cookie dough balls! Do you think they’d work with white beans instead of chickpeas? Or other beans? Anyone tried other beans?