#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Recipe: Barefoot Contessa’s Hummus

December 13, 2011 · Narrative

Hummus
As I was packing up the kids’ snacks and lunch this morning, Nick stopped me.

“Wait, I need pretzels and hummus for school!”

I love that he loves hummus.  And I’m certainly addicted to it myself.  Especially lately.  Clean eating.  Healthy.  And delicious.  It’s the perfect mid-day, tide-you-over-till-lunch bite.  And with our recent reboot of Eat.Live.Be., this is a perfect guilt-free snack to take the edge off, and it seriously whips up in five minutes flat. If you’re playing along, tomorrow’s Eat.Live.Be. will take its inspiration from somewhere online.

It turns out that Mystic is not a fan of hummus.  Or chick peas.  Or apparently beans of most any kind.  Couldn’t even get him to try it, and he’ll usually try anything.  I haven’t given up yet, but in the meantime, it’s most definitely his loss.  Adding to his list…

I brought some in to work last week and asked one of my new co-workers if she wanted some.

“Hummus?  Is it gross?”

“Hey now, do you think I would make something gross?  Come on now.”

I suggested she just try a little bit and then she’d know for sure if she liked it or not.  By the time I made it up the three flights to my office, she had e-mailed me to tell me how good it was.

Another convert!

There are a million recipes out there for hummus, and I’m usually partial to one from my friend, Beth.  But a few weeks ago, I found this version from Ina Garten and her Barefoot Contessa cookbook, and I have to say, it’s quite possibly my new favorite.  It has a ton of garlicky flavor, which a lot of other hummus recipes don’t, and I think that’s why I like it so much.

The Barefoot ContessaAs far as dippers?  There are tons of possibilities, but my favorites are sourdough pretzels, pumpernickel pretzel rods, and mini carrots (currently on sale at Target, of all places, at $1.50 a bag).

And before I forget, if you don’t already have that cookbook, circa 1999, consider grabbing it.  Filled with classic, no-fail recipes, I’ve had quite a few winners from it over the years, including the cover recipe for those vegetables.  Yummy stuff indeed.

Happy dipping!

Hummus
Courtesy of Ina Garten and The Barefoot Contessa cookbook

4 garlic cloves
2 cups canned chickpeas, drained, liquid reserved
1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/3 cup tahini (sesame paste) (I usually add just a touch more)
6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons) (I sometimes cheat and use bottled lemon juice, it’s fine, I swear)
2 tablespoons water or liquid from the chickpeas
8 dashes hot sauce

Turn on the food processor fitted with the steel blade and drop the garlic down the feed tube; process until it’s minced. Add the rest of the ingredients to the food processor and process until the hummus is coarsely pureed. Taste, for seasoning, and serve chilled or at room temperature.

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: Eat. Live. Be., hummus, Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa cookbook

Comments

  1. Claire says

    December 13, 2011 at 10:20 pm

    Love, love, love hummus! Used to not like it at ALL but now it”s a favorite.

    Reply
  2. Joanne says

    December 14, 2011 at 7:20 am

    I used to HATE the texture of hummus (and all beans) but I’ve gotten over it. Obviously. It was the only sensible thing to do. Now I’m always on the lookout for the next best hummus. With that much tahini…this just might be it.

    Reply
  3. Patsy says

    December 14, 2011 at 11:23 am

    I love hummus! Will have to try this recipe… wish I could send it to school with my kids…. but, its on the ‘no-no’ list since we are nut-free there. Oh well, we can nibble on it at home!

    Reply
  4. Jessica @ Cajunlicious says

    December 14, 2011 at 3:24 pm

    Delicious! So happy I found you on another foodies blog, you’ve got yourself a new follower! xo Jessica @ Cajunlicious

    Reply
  5. Michigan Food Blog says

    December 20, 2011 at 1:57 am

    Great recipe except I like mine with only one clove of garlic and no hot sauce. Looks great though!

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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