Humus

Basic hummus recipe:

1 1\2 cup cooked garbanzo beans

2 tbs. olive oil

2 tbs. tahini (ground sesame seeds) (can be eliminated if you don't like the flavor)

2 tbs. lemon juice

Grind in a blender of food processor. use water or other liquid to help it blend.

The above recipe is a little bland in my opinion, so to spice it up the way I like it:

1 1\2 cup cooked garbanzo beans

2 tbs. olive oil plus extra for the garlic

2 tbs. tahini (ground sesame seeds) (can be eliminated if you don't like the flavor)

2 tbs. lemon juice

2 cups chicken broth

1\3 tsp. cumin

1\3 tsp chili powder

2 tsp. soy sauce

1 bulb of garlic

salt and pepper

Cut garlic in bulb in half with the roots facing down. Douse with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Wrap in foil and bake at 350 for about 45 minutes, or until the garlic cloves are a dark tan color and are about the consistency of toothpaste. Wait for garlic to cool, then squeeze the cloves into a bowl being careful to get the paper skins out. Boil the beans in the broth with the cumin and chili powder for 20 minutes. Grind beans with 2 tbs. olive oil, juice, tahini, soy sauce and garlic until smooth. Add broth or water as needed. use as a dip for toasted pita bread, chips, or cut veggies.

Additional add-ins to the original recipe:

fresh mint (very traditional)

fresh parsely

fresh basil

fresh oregano

plain yogurt for a creamy texture

fire roasted red pepper

a dash of cinnamon

sun dried tomatoes

Tahini

1 tsp olive oil (or sesame oil)

1/4 c sesame seeds

1/4 cup water

salt

Blend.

From Katie Fredrickson