Weekend Highlights + Tomato Basil Chickpea Salad {Secret Recipe Club}

Most weekends are not as eventful as this one was.  Jacob and I usually lay low a bit more and spent time at home (which I did end up getting to do Sunday afternoon!). 

I’ll cover the highlights… because a lot went down.

It all started Friday evening…

My cousin Dylan (all the way from Australia) arrived that afternoon, so a lot of the family got together for a BBQ at my folks.  Since paintball was on the agenda for the next day we did a little practicing.

He he, this photo cracks me up.

Jacob and Dylan got along instantly… kind of like brothers.

They joked like brothers, and then wrestled like brothers.

And they kind of look like brothers, don’t they?

My mom was so sweet and made us delicious black bean burgers since we’re meat free for a while.

My contribution?  Tomato basil chickpea salad!

And it also just so happens to be time again for The Secret Recipe Club.  Every month bloggers are assigned a ‘secret blog’ to look through, pick a recipe to make, and share it on reveal day.  Today is reveal day!  I had so much fun participating my first month and couldn’t wait to make a secret recipe again.

I was assigned Ethan from Food In My Hands.  I  think it’s way cool when I see guys into cooking.  Ethan seems like he LOVES both food AND cooking.  I was glad to find a recipe using zucchini.  My mom has been growing them like crazy (without even trying) and I’m happily snatching them up from her. 

Simple and quite tasty salad for a BBQ!

Tomato Basil Chickpea Salad
Adapted from Food In My Hands

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 2 medium vine tomatoes, chopped
• 1 medium zucchini, chopped
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 20 leaves fresh basil, finely sliced
• 1 tsp garlic, pressed
• 1/8 c balsamic vinegar
• sea salt to taste

Directions

1. In a medium bowl combine all ingredients.  All to marinated before serving.

It’s even more delicious the next day smothered in Mama Peas Mmmm sauce. 

That is no lie.

Saturday’s big event was paint balling.

And it was really fun.

I’m in the green… I protected my girls really well with two (very padded) bras.  They ended up perfectly fine since I only got hit below the waist.

Dylan had SO much fun.  He was insane there… but any 15 year old boy with a paint ball gun would probably be insane, right?

We got to use my sister-in-law’s grandpa’s field. 

It had really nice tree coverings which was great since it rained that day.  Plus I could hide behind the trees as much as I wanted to… and I did a lot.

My one action shot!

I was happily surprised that I only got hit 4 times on my legs.  They all left a mark and stung so bad when I got hit.  It was a blast though and I’m excited to report my fear of constantly being hit by paintballs did not happen. 

Sunday’s big events was the Race for the Cure with my mama.

We’ve participated 6, maybe 7 years?  I lose track.

It rained at home, on the way to the bus, then no more.  Yay, we lucked out!

My favorite part was Dave’s Killer Bread (and the cause too, but I’m talking about free samples here!).

Not only did I get to OD on free bread samples, I got to meet Dave himself!

And he even signed my bicep telling me to ‘Say no to bread on drugs!’. 

I will say no Dave, just because you asked.

How was your weekend?  Low key or super busy? 

I’m looking forward to next weekend… no plans at all.  Monday will you change to Friday… pretty please?

Heather

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