"name your bean" hummus

Lunch (for me) is SOOO boring at out house lately. The boys are happy as ever scarfing down a rotating menu of turkey/cheese, peanut butter/soy butter and grilled cheese. I mean happy! Actually, Xavier would eat cream cheese and green olives on toast everyday if I would let him but that is a recipe for another day!! Anyway, the thought of yet another lunch of pretzels dipped in peanut butter for me was less than appealing...so I wracked my brain for something different that I could make in say, 2 minutes. Hummus came to mind. I usually have an assortment of canned chickpeas on hand for days such as this but today I was out of luck. I did however, have some cannellini beans that I thought would do the trick.

My general hummus recipe goes something like this:

Hummus

1 can chickpeas or other bean, drained and rinsed
1 clove garlic
2-3 T. tahini
1/2 t. cumin
juice of one lime or 1/2 lemon
2-3 T olive oil
dash of hot pepper flakes or cayenne

Place in food processor and process until smooth. Add a couple of T of water if it is too thick. Season with salt and pepper to taste.



I happened to have some green onions on hand so I threw a couple of those in there too and blended them up just for fun. I put some in a tortilla and topped with some cilantro and a little more green onion and lunch was served. If I would have had some pita bread, cucumber, sprouts and maybe a little red pepper it would have been divine!! Regardless, it sure beat peanut butter! I made it again with black beans the next day and it would have been great on some tortilla or pita chips....if I wasn't too lazy, I mean busy, to go out and get them!!

Will the kids eat this?? Xavier, of course! Dax? Not a chance. NO WAY! Not even with a GOOD bribe.

Speaking of bribes..... the other night our conversation went something like this.

ME: Dax if you want this...

then you have to eat your broccoli!

DAX: Tan I have tetchup?

ME: For what???

DAX: For my brotowee.

ME: What??

DAX: For my brotowee! (said loudly and slowly)

ME: Sure...whatever it takes. (Ketchup is a food group in our house. At least it is made from a vegetable...or technically a fruit, right?!?)

DAX: I'm finished!!! Can I have my 'anana trit?

ME: What is this....?????

DAX: I only like the tops. That is the brotowee. The bottom is not brotowee.....can I have my 'anana trit pwease?

You have got to give him credit for trying!!

mmmm... my kid's favorite dip

Mmmm. Hands down the most requested thing in the house by the kids. White Dip. Well, that is what we call it. It is actually a cream cheese fruit dip. So good and so very easy (the easy part even actually makes it even taste better)!! Mom made this for us as kids and we called it Caramel Apple Dip....it does taste close to caramel apples and it is certainly less hassle. I have made it hundreds of times. If you have come to my house for one thing or another I'm sure you have had it!


Fruit Dip aka White Dip


8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 small jar marshmallow cream
1 tsp vanilla

Mix all ingredients together until smooth and creamy. Use electric mixer for best results. Serve with cut up fruit. Green apples are the boys favorite with this dip.

I use neuchatel cheese which is a light cream cheese.


Here is Xavier "testing" it for me to make sure that it is as good as he remembers it to be.




Yup! It sure is!!








I am really behind on posting new blog entries but I will catch up soon , I promise:)

These are some of my **favorite*** recent pictures of Xavier. I really {heart} them!!!