Welcome back to the final week of Summer in the Kitchen! Over the course of five weeks I have shared with you how to primarily use Palouse Brand legumes in ways that compliment this summer season.

As we come to a close I’d first like to thank Palouse Brand for their consideration and trust in allowing me to contribute to this series. I hope you all have been able to try and enjoy at least one of these amazing dishes.

Here's a quick recap of the first four weeks: we started things off with a delicious Marinated Chickpeas and Whipped Feta appetizer; next up for week two was the refreshing Tangy Chickpea & Black Bean Salad; followed by the Hard White and Khorasan Wheat Sandwich Bread; which took us right into week four showcasing the main dish which was Green Lentil Chili with Chicken Sausage. For the final week I can’t leave you without a dessert… This one may surprise you.

From savory to sweet

Over the last few weeks, we've used Palouse Brand Chickpeas in some pretty delicious savory dishes. We started the series with a Marinated Chickpeas and Whipped Feta appetizer, then added them to a colorful and refreshing summer salad with black beans.

I love ingredients that can stretch beyond what we typically think they're meant for, and chickpeas is definitely one of those pantry staples. We're taking chickpeas somewhere you may not expect them, dessert! Let me introduce you to this week's recipe: Chickpea Blondie Bars with Chocolate Chips! Are you questioning my decision with this recipe? I don’t blame you. But trust me, they’re so good!

The chickpeas give the bars a soft texture while adding some extra goodness to a treat that still tastes like a dessert. Paired with chocolate chips and a few simple ingredients, you'd probably never guess there are chickpeas hiding inside. I couldn’t believe how addicting these are, even straight out of the dough bowl. I kid you not, it tastes just like chocolate chip cookie dough!

This recipe will prove how incredibly versatile legumes can be, and just another fun way to get creative with something you may already have sitting in your pantry. So we're ending this five-week series the best way I know how, with something sweet!

Why I choose Palouse Brand Chickpeas

After using Palouse Brand legumes throughout this five-week series, I've had plenty of chances to use them in my own kitchen, and honestly, I keep coming back to them because I really like the quality. Their chickpeas have a great texture and cook up beautifully, whether I'm using them for a savory appetizer, tossing them into a fresh summer salad, or doing something a little unexpected like turning them into dessert!

I also really appreciate knowing where my food comes from. Palouse Brand is a multi-generational family farm in the Pacific Northwest, and they put a lot of care into the quality of what they're growing. Their chickpeas are Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Glyphosate Residue Free by The Detox Project, Kosher, Non-Irradiated, and Desiccant-Free, and their farm is Food Alliance Certified. They also test their products for heavy metals, including arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury.

For me, it's that combination of quality and knowing the story behind the food I'm bringing into my kitchen that keeps me reaching for Palouse Brand. And after five weeks of finding new ways to use their legumes, I think we've had a pretty good time proving that chickpeas can do a whole lot more than you might think!