The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

The food being promoted through Montana Harvest of the Month for April is chickpeas. Harvest of the Month is a program which showcases Montana grown foods. You will see posters and events in the schools, other education facilities and healthcare institutions across Montana. These places promote the locally grown item by serving it as a meal and/or snack along with displaying educational literature and displays. Many of your children may have mentioned during school they learned about these locally grown items and/or had a taste test. The primary goals of the Harvest of the Month program are to expose children and adults to new, healthy foods and to support local farmers and ranchers.

Have you ever tasted a chickpea? Also known as garbanzo beans and part of the legume family, chickpeas are easy and beneficial to add to any meal. They are packed with fiber, folate, potassium and iron. They are an affordable source of protein. If you are looking for a different food source without gluten, sodium or cholesterol, chickpeas are one those items you may want to consider. They are heart-healthy and have a low-glycemic index.

A very easy way to purchase chickpeas would be to buy them canned. Just drain and rinse and add to a salad or other dishes. Chickpeas taste mild on their own which makes them ideal to blend with other flavors. Dried chickpeas are also an option and cook up very easily in the electric pressure cookers and slow cookers.

Here is a recipe to enjoy (Courtesy of Northern Pulse Growers Association)

DESSERT HUMMUS

1 (15-oz.) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

¼ cup creamy peanut butter

¼ cup maple syrup

½ tablespoon vanilla extract

¼ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

Blend together the chickpeas, peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla extract by hand or in a blender. Stir chocolate chips into mixture. Serve with fruit or graham crackers. Makes six servings. Each serving has 190 calories, 8 g fat, 6 g protein, 27 g carbohydrate, 5 g fi ber and 75 mg sodium.

To learn more, contact Janell at the Chouteau County Extension Office at 622-3036, janellb@montana.edu or in the green building next to the Chouteau County Courthouse at 1308 Franklin St in Fort Benton.

Follow us on Facebook @ChouteauCountyExtension to keep up to date on what is happening in Chouteau County Extension and 4-H.

Montana State University, US Department of Agriculture and Montana Counties Cooperating. MSU Extension is an equal opportunity/affirmative action provider of educational outreach.