Hello!

This is brand new for me, we all have to start somewhere, so bear with me!

I love to cook, I also love to eat, but my problem is I have no one to cook for! I am always bringing food to family, friends and my work and saying "Please, just taste this and let me know...". Well, most of the time people are willing to eat it and tell me it's great. But I need REALLY objective opinions..I think feeding the engineering group at work is kind of like feeding starving wolves...they just swarm over it and all that is left is the plate and serving spoon. So, I would like to post some of my "inventions" here maybe you would like to try them and let me know how you liked it.

I will be publishing a cook book based on family favorite comfort foods that are a healthier (my opinion only) version. Sometimes it will be lower in calories or maybe lower in fat, but the taste won't be sacrificed. It will use real ingredients and it won't be complicated.

I am a big believer that artificial ingredients aren't really meant for human consumption. You won't be seeing artificial flavoring & sweeteners, I just don't like the taste or how I feel after eating/drinking them. I would rather have my favorite soda a couple of times a month than drink diet anything, but that's just me. So, I got used to drinking a lot of things with no sweetener. I love iced tea with lemon/lime and a few crushed raspberries in it. I also smash blueberries and add to my iced tea with lemon. Amazing, you can actually taste the flavors of tea and fruit, you aren't overcome with the taste of sweetener. Just a thought, it isn't for everyone.

So here is my plan, I will post my version of a common dish using real ingredients. I must confess, I use very little sodium so I make up for it with a LOT of fresh herbs and garlic..love me some garlic! Always feel free to use salt to your taste. I also have to add that I cannot look at a recipe without making some changes, no matter what it is I ALWAYS change something in it. Even my own recipes, it keeps life interesting!

SO....here is my first, very simple, healthy recipe....feedback is welcome, just please be nice about language and "treat others as you wish to be treated". Thanks!


HUMMUS
(the original idea came from my daughter, I made a few changes!)

ingredients:

2                 14.5 oz cans of garbanzo beans drained, rinsed well
1                 can water (rinse can well before using) enough to blend
1/4 cup       lightly toasted sesame seeds
Juice of      1/2 fresh lemon
Zest of       1/2 lemon
1 TBSP      ground chia or ground flax seed (OPTIONAL)
1/4 cup       olive oil
2                 smashed garlic cloves
pinch          cumin
More olive oil for garnish

Any of the following (or combo) for garnish:
Roasted garlic (3-4 cloves mashed)
Sun dried tomatoes - 2-3 TBSP chopped
Kalamata olives - 7-8 chopped
Toasted pine nuts - 2-3 TBSP chopped
Pepperocini - 2-3 chopped
Jalapeno - 1 seeded, minced
Caramelized onion - 2-3 TBSP chopped
Roasted red pepper - 2-3 strips chopped
Or anything that sounds good to you.

Put the ingredients (except water & garnish) in to a food processor or blender and blend drizzling in the water until it is the consistency of thick cake batter. Another confession I have a Vitamix and it is so cool to make hummus in, smooth in 3 minutes!  You want it thick enough so it doesn't run off of your pita, chip, cracker, vegetable etc. It should hang on to the spreader not run off. Make sure it is smooth, not grainy, you may want to add just a few drops of olive oil and blend again to help smooth it out.

When it is the consistency that suits you, put it in a serving bowl and smooth out the top. Put one or more of the garnishes in the center and drizzle olive oil over everything....not too much, just make it shiny. Cover and refrigerate for a couple of hours. This is great to make the day before or morning of a get together, the flavors meld the longer it sits.

To serve I put it in the middle of my vegetable platter instead of ranch dressing, I haven't had any complaints so far. Let me know what you think! I apologize for no pictures, I told you I was new at this! As soon as I figure out the picture thing I will post those as well.