Chickpea Nibblers

Our library has a few shelves in the basement with books you can buy for a quarter. Being a cheap thrify gal who is a huge dork loves to read, I clearly frequent this area. Most days there isn't much to choose from, mainly old novels and "how-to" books for tasks I've never really had the desire to know "how-to" accomplish.

But the other day I hit the Mother Load! Oodles and oodles of Martha Stewart Living Magazine as well as tons of Better Homes and Gardens. I was in heaven. Thankfully I had my big purse that day, because I filled that baby with all the magazines the few dollars I had on me could buy. I was glad I only had a few bucks (but secretly wished I had grabbed more), because I could have done some major damage!  

These magazines were a treasure trove of tips, ideas, inspirations, and recipes...oh the many, many recipes! I will be busy organizing these for quite some time. (Read: Throwing them in a box and probably forgetting I have them until I find them one day and relive the excitement!)

Here is one recipe I tried from a 1994 issue of Living.

These are crazy easy and really great for healthy snacking! Just a note: I think I used 3/4 to 1 Tablespoon of oil, rather than the 2 it calls for.

"Drain, rinse, and pat-dry a 19-ounce can of chickpeas. Toss them in a bowl with 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, a pinch of ground pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of your favorite dried herb or spice (we used garam masala, an Indian blend; oregano would work well, too). Arrange them in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, and cook at 300 degrees, stirring occasionally until they have browned and begin to crisp, about 50 minutes. Serve at room temperature. Chickpeas can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days."

I was so surprised that I liked these as much as I did. I have been looking for a few healthy snacking ideas to keep me on track, and this one is a nice option. I wouldn't say that I would choose them over chocolate or anything, but as a smart choice, they are tasty.

Try them with a few different spices and let me know what you think!