Every year I say I’ll do my Christmas shopping in November and get it out of the way.
Every year.
Every single year I end up doing it last minute, battling car park rage, shoving the crowds out of my way, while dealing with aching pregnancy feet/ screeching baby/one year old with pooplosions/terrible two tantrums.
It seems this year is no exception.
With 13 nights left till Christmas day we’re yet to put our tree up let alone do our shopping for the big fat wog family and I’m starting to stress just thinking about it.
Apologies in advance to my blogging friends and loyal readers for the lack of posts lately. I just have so much on and so much yet to do.
This working full time, being a mother, wife, chef, cleaner and blogger gig is hard work!
Yesterday I could have done some shopping but instead decided to enjoy a cold one under the sun, with my feet up, nibbling on curry chickpeas and it was bliss. Christmas stress can wait another day.
My recipe for crunchy baked curry chickpeas is the ultimate beer snack. Perfectly crunch, salty and yummy it’ll have you going back for more. And the best part of it is they’re pretty good for you
Yummy Crunchy Oven Roasted Curry Chickpeas
- 2 cans (400g) chickpeas
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- ½ teaspoon chilli flakes (optional)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
Rinse and dry your chickpeas thoroughly with a paper towel. You don’t want any excess moisture.
Combine all the ingredients together, toss well to evenly coat and spread out onto a flat baking dish
Bake for 20 minutes, switch the oven off and leave chickpeas inside the oven with the door closed for a further 20 minutes to dry out.
Open a cold beer, guzzle it down while you enjoy your salty crunchy chickpeas!
Chickpeas will keep crunchy for up to 3 days if stored in a air tight container.
Flavour variations: Don’t like curry? Why not go for these combos: cumin/paprika/salt …cayenne pepper/garlic powder/salt….sweet tooth? Cinnamon/sugar…
Gourmet Wog 
I know how you feel. I would love to be organised and shop in November but every November comes and goes with me doing nothing. This year I vowed I’d shop on-line but I haven’t done that either and now I’m worried I’ve left it too late so I’ll be battling it out with all the aggressors in those final few days before Christmas. It’s very hard to fit in blogging in December so I think you’re doing really well. Good on you for putting your feet up and enjoying these – what a great snack! I’ll pin them! xx
If I could give you a big hug, I would. Anyone with a to-do list that big who says screw it, gimme a beer is who I want sitting next to me.
Love your curried chickpea snack!
I am totally the same although I usually start out well and get a few gifts nice and early then it all goes down hill and I end up racing around at the last minute! I think I need to put my feet up and have some of these too.
You are so funny! I do that too each and every year and it drives me nuts. I can’t believe how manic people get at this time of year. Yep no tree up here either. Oh wow Lisa – just love that chick pea recipe. Hubby adores those little suckers. Am going to do it for sure! Cheers lovely
YES Manic is the perfect way to describe it Julie! It’s like everyone man for himself. The shops become a stampede. Insane!
The chick peas sound delish – glad you got to put your feet up! It sure is a hectic time of year – maybe you could do all your shopping online?
Thanks Celia, they certainly were moreish!
I’m going to have to one year. I think I’ve missed the cut off date for delivery though, off to the shops I go 😦
You’re a machine Lisa, I don’t know how you do it all! Yummy chick peas. We eat these but straight from the packet :-p should probably consider cooking them, it would be a much healthier option and less spicy too!
oh hardly love but I try!
Give this a go Amelia, I think you’d love it! Much better then the packet/msg varieties 🙂
Good luck with that shopping! We could probably start an online support group for Christmas shopping-related stress! I like your stress solution though – the chickpeas sound really tasty, and perfect for with a cold beer… or maybe a glass of red wine drunk next to the fire in the cold northern half of the world?
I think an online support group is a fabulous idea! There is a lot of Christmas shopping rage out there…
I was late with Christmas gift buying too! I usually try and do it really super early but this year totally got away from me! I made something like these and they are so stackable and moreish! Good luck with the shopping and prep for Xmas!
They certainly are moreish Lorraine! Hubby and I polished the whole thing in one sitting. That’s a can of chickpeas each!
One of my very favorite go-to snacks. My vegetarian friend taught me to make them. I am so glad that you are sharing your delicious recipe with all of us. Have a lovely weekend. Warmly, Shanna
Thanks so much Shanna, they’re really good for you too! Hope you had a lovely weekend 🙂
Of course! Happy Tuesday! Best, Shanna
yummy! I’ll have to by pass a cold one for some hot cocoa! These look delicious and I can eat the whole lot in one sitting 🙂
Good luck with your Christmas prep, I don’t envy you 🙂
I think you should try the cinnamon and sugar topping to go with your hot chocolate! 🙂
Have everything in hand ~ these sound delicious and may be made more than once in the next few weeks 🙂 ! I have to admit that since I discovered online shopping almost everything has been thus bought, mug of green tea in hand, around the witching hour and in considerable comfort 🙂 ! And never been disappointed . . . and saved so much!!! Admittedly being 50-60 kms away from the nearest decent stores made that a rather foregone deed!! Good luck and patience anyways!!!!
I’m going to have to try online shopping one year Eha, I always think about it but then its too late for the delivery cut off and don’t make it. I think the problem is I just have to organise myself a bit better!
This is one of our favourite snacks!
Us too now!
I’ll put these out at my Christmas open house party. Good for you to relax a tiny bit…there is always tomorrow. 🙂
Hope your guests enjoy them Karen!
They look good Lisa. Do they go soft after a while? If so, it is a pity,because they would be so much cheaper than commercial nibblies.
they’ve lasted about 3 days with us Glenda, then they do soften.
These sound wonderful, Lisa, and I love curry so there’s no problem there! I can identify with your Christmas thoughts. Just this afternoon, I addressed about a dozen cards to send out. Yesterday I “shopped” for gift cards. For the teenagers in my family, I think I’ll go shopping at the bank. That bunch is the easiest to shop for. 🙂
oh John, you’re better then I am. I would so love to send out Christmas cards but just never get around to it, or leave it too late and it wont make it to the recipient on time.
I think I’m going to go shopping at the bank too, easier for all!
I was sooo excited when I saw these but sadly I made a trial batch and the peas were really mushy inside. Quite possibly due to the fact I don’t have a ‘real’ oven at the moment. Flavour was great but peas just didn’t crunch up. I did however have another massive win with your Garlic Toum Dip. Served it to friends Christmas Eve and now I’m a goddess! Thanks to you. Keep those recipes coming 🙂
I’m obsessed with chickpeas, but I’ve never had them oven roasted! I can’t wait to try these, especially because organic chickpeas are healthy, affordable, and are in my pantry all year round! My dream food 🙂 Looking forward to reading more from you.