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Dec
11

Homemade Hummus Spread with Baby Bella Mushrooms

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Hummus is a must have staple in our kitchen, it’s always in the fridge and ready to use as a base for sandwiches, wraps or just like in this recipe – as a dip topped with mushrooms, served with fresh pita bread and chopped salad. Hummus is a Mediterranean spread/dip made from Garbanzo beans A.K.A Chic Peas, Tahini paste, lemon and spices. It is a good source of protein, calcium (in the Tahini) and is very satisfying.

I sometimes buy a good quality Hummus but prefer to make it myself from scratch. It takes 5 minutes on the clock to prepare, and yes, I did time myself  (:  I like to use the BPA-Free Tetra Pak® Garbanzo Beans or the BPA-Free Can (just like in my Mexican Black Bean Dip recipe). Sometimes I add a bunch of pitted olives into the food processor, for added zest, and make an Olive- flavored Hummus, which is  absolutely De-Lish’!

Ingredients

1 Can or 1½ Cup Cooked Garbanzo beans (about 15oz)

1½-2 Tbsp. Tahini

2 Tbsp. Lemon Juice (Juice of ½ lemon)

1 tsp. Cumin

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

Salt to taste

For the Mushroom Topping:

1 Pack Baby Bella Mushrooms, sliced ,stems off

Oilve Oil

Salt and Pepper

Chopped Parsley ,Scallion and Paprika  for garnish

Preparation

Place all Hummus ingredients in a food processor and mix, add lemon juice and olive oil gradually, until it becomes paste like consistency. Taste and adjust to your liking.

If it’s too “dry”, I like to add a little bit of the sesame oil that’s at the top of the Tahini Jar. (It also adds more flavor).

You can add more lemon juice or water if it is still not as smooth as you like, add it gradually, a Tbsp at a time so it won’t be too “watery”.

Don’t forget to leave some whole chic peas on the side for later.

Sauté the mushrooms in oil for a few minutes, until soft, add salt and pepper to taste.

To serve,  generously spread homemade Hummus on a plate. Drizzle olive oil on top, add mushrooms, chic peas and scallion. Decorate with paprika and parsley.

Get some fresh pita bread and start “wiping”…

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Category: Blog, Dips and Spreads, Easy & Simple, Gluten Free, Lunch, Party, Recipies, Snacks, Uncategorized
Sep
17

Vegan Fresh Basil Pesto

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I love the smell of basil. I think it has an effect on the mind. I can’t imagine sniffing fresh basil and feeling bad. Think of basil and the first thing that comes to mind is Pesto sauce. Basil combined with the little flavor bombs A.K.A Pine nuts is just a perfect match. If pesto did not exist, I would want to be the one to invent it. Every time I make home-made Pesto I feel like I have  just created a magic potion. It doesn’t matter what I’ll add it to, it brings everything to the next level of goodness; Sandwiches, Pasta, Pizza or just as a snack with some chips and crackers. My latest “trick” is to layer it under tomato sauce on my Almost Home-Made Vegan Pizza for all those Green-O-Phobes :). There are many rituals and beliefs associated with basil. One that I especially like is that if two people smell a basil stem together they will remain friends forever. So go ahead and sniff some basil with someone you like 🙂

Ingredients

3 to 4 Cups fresh washed basil leaves

1/2 Cup Pine nuts

2 Cloves of Garlic

1/3 Cup Olive Oil

Juice of Half a Lemon

1 tsp. Sea Salt

Black Pepper

Preparation

In a food processor, mix everything except for the oil.

Drizzle the oil gradually as you blend until smooth.

Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

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I wish you could smell it through the screen…

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Category: Blog, Dips and Spreads, Easy & Simple, Raw, Recipies, Snacks, Uncategorized
Sep
12

Smiley Coconut Snowballs

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While I was researching the famous phrase: ‘You are what you eat’, to find out who said it, I stumbled upon a very funny comment in one of the sites. Someone said it was his mom who said it first… 🙂 I’m sure she is not the first mom telling it to her kids, wanting them to eat healthy. As a mother, a big part of my life is worrying about what my daughter eats and I know I’m not alone in the ‘Picky Eaters Parents Club’.  So I have to be creative and “sneak-in” the ‘good stuff’ into the food I make for her. It makes me happy to see her eating something healthy in disguise. For her it’s a dessert and all I see is the chia seeds.

Easy and quick, no baking involved so even the kids can help make it. Everyone loves them, including the grown ups! Back to ‘You are what you eat’, even though I don’t have scientific evidence, I’m pretty sure you can become a smiley (and healthy) snowball after eating these cute & delicious munchkins 😉

(makes about 25-35 Balls)

Ingredients

2 Cups Raw Almond Flour/Meal (Ground Almonds)

2 Cups Unsweetened Shredded dry Coconut Flakes

1 Tbsp Chia Seeds, Soaked in ¼ Cup Almond Milk (it will expand into 3 Tbsp. after soaking for 15-20 minutes)

½ Cup Maple Syrup

2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1 Tbsp. Coconut Oil

Pinch of Salt

Options: Add Teaspoon Raw Almond Butter, Cashew Butter or Cinnamon

(If you want Chocolate balls, just add 1 1/2 Tbsp. of Cocoa Powder)

For the Decoration:

Shredded dry Coconut to cover

Vegan Chocolate Chips (for the eyes)

Goji Berries (for the mouth)

Pine Nuts (for nose)

Preparation

Mix everything well, don’t add the liquid all at once (Almond milk with soaked chia seeds), try to play with the amounts to the desirable consistency. The coconut oil melts in room temperature so after you’re done mixing, place in the fridge for 10-20 minutes to harden, so its easy to work with. Take it out of the fridge and form balls. Dip in the shredded dry Coconut, decorate and serve, or keep in fridge for later. Smile & Enjoy!

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Category: Gluten Free, Kid Friendly, Party, Raw, Recipies, Snacks, Sweets and Desserts, Uncategorized
Aug
31

Mexican Black Bean Dip

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A quick and easy dip that is ready in minutes. If you like, you can soak the black beans overnight and then cook them. But if you prefer the easy way out, like me :-), you can use canned beans just make sure they’re BPA free like Eden Organics, or even better, I found Tetra Pak® carton packages and you don’t even need a can opener!

Ingredients

1 Package Black Beans (about 14 oz, cooked)

1 cup Fresh Cilantro, chopped

1 Jalepeno Pepper

Juice of ½ Lime

1 Tbsp Tahini

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp Cumin

¹⁄8 tsp Smoked Paprika (smoked is optional but it really makes a difference in taste)

1 tsp Olive Oil

Preparation

Place all ingredients into food processor until smooth paste.

Spread it on sandwiches or enjoy as a dip with crackers or chips.

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Category: Dips and Spreads, Easy & Simple, Gluten Free, Party, Recipies, Snacks
Aug
31

Have You Ever Supremed an Orange?

How To Supreme Citrus

Supreming an orange (or any other citrus) is a way to cut into its inner sections. This looks so complicated but is actually pretty easy. You’ll end up with clean beautiful segments that can be added to salads or as a finger food for toddlers.

It’s important to use a sharp paring knife. I use my favorite ceramic knife.

How To Supreme Citrus

Start by slicing off the top and bottom of the orange so that it can comfortably stand on the cutting board.

Carefully cut off the peel around the fruit and try to remove all the white pith.

Slice into each side of the segment and remove it, staying as close as possible to the white membranes that divide up the orange.

I like to squeeze out the juice from the leftover “skeleton” of the orange into the salad dressing.

It’s a great addition to fruit salads and is an easy quick decoration to desserts.

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Category: Kid Friendly, Misc., Salads, Snacks, Tips and Techniques