Hummus

Hummus is a great addition to your diet and can help you enjoy your veggies so much more.  I have mentioned in the past how important veggies are to your overall diet.  They have lots of great natural vitamins in them and can make you feel full without the extra calories. I love to eat carrots, celery, radishes, sugar snap peas, and broccoli all dipped in my hummus.  I also like to use hummus as my condiment for my sandwiches.  Sometimes my sandwiches are made as lettuce wraps smothered in hummus with some turkey and fresh ground pepper and oregano. If you love your cheese you can add one slice of cheese too.  It can also be spread onto bread instead of mustard or mayo. Hummus, which is made of chick peas (garbanzo beans), is a great source of Protein, Fiber, Folate, Copper, and Manganese. I will also add it to my salads to add a little bit of moisture without adding more dressing of any kind. I love my hummus.  It can made all the way from scratch with dried chick peas (garbanzo beans), or with a can of the chick peas (garbanzo beans).  If I use the can I will decrease salt and I always buy cans without added sugars or salt if I can find them.  I do prefer to make hummus starting with the dried chick peas.  If you go ahead and soak a bunch of them and cook them up, then you can store whatever you don't use in a Ziplock bag in the freezer.  Making things simple is key to continuing to cook healthy dishes.  I freeze extra whenever possible for those days that you don't have as much time.  So here is my recipe, as best I can, but always remember to add more or less of something to make it yours.

Hummus
1 1/2 cups cooked chick peas or 1 16oz can of chick peas (garbanzo beans) drained.
Juice of 2-3 lemons
1/4 cup tahini (ground up sesame seeds- I usually find in the organic section close to peanut butters)
1 tsp Celtic Sea salt
2 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp cummin
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1-2 pinches of cayenne pepper (more or less to desired spice)
1/4 - 1/2 cup water

Directions:
Blend all ingredients in food processor. Add more or less water to get to desired texture and moisture. I usually need less water when I use the canned beans. I may also add 1 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil for a little flavor and good fat. Blend until desired smoothness.