Homemade Hummus!

I LOVE hummus! It is a very easy, versatile dish that can be used to dip veggies, or you can use it as a spread on sandwiches. I found this recipe on Epicurious.com and this has been the best one that I have tried so far!

Why make your own when you can buy some at the grocery store?? Take a look at the ingredients on the store-bought Non-GMO Roasted Read Pepper Hummus (from Sabra's website):

Cooked Chickpeas, Tahini (Ground Sesame), NonGMO Soybean Oil, Red Bell Pepper, Water, Garlic, Salt, NonGMO Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate Added To Maintain Freshness, Natural Flavors

Thankfully they have taken steps in the right direction and are using some non-GMO ingredients, which is great!! However, there are still some ingredients that you want to watch out for:

• When I buy groceries, I like to know that I am buying organic ingredients, especially fresh fruit and vegetables. So seeing just 'red bell pepper' on the ingredient list makes me wonder. It is most likely not organic, which then means it could be GMO and covered in pesticides.
• Again, when buying my own ingredients, I get organic, thus when I make my own hummus I am using organic chickpeas, organic tahini, and other organic ingredients. I seriously doubt Sabra is using organic ingredients. 
• Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent molding. With prolonged use, this ingredient has been linked to skin allegories, like eczema. (Food Babe)
• Even though they are using non-GMO soybean oil, this and canola oil are the cheapest oils to use and can offset the balance of Omega 3 fatty acids to Omega 6 fatty acids. This is why so many people are deficient in Omega 3 fatty acids, thus can cause chronic diseases like cancer, depression, and arthritis. (Food Babe)

So with that said, it is seriously worth the few moments it takes to make your own hummus because you know what is going in it and where the ingredients came from. I hope you enjoy this homemade hummus recipe! It makes double what you would get at the grocery store as well!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups drained and rinsed canned organic chickpeas
• Water
• 1/2 cup organic tahini
• 1/4 cup good-quality extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 TB ground cumin
• 1 TB ground paprika
• Juice of 2 lemons
• Chopped fresh parsley leaves for garnish

Directions:

1. Put everything (except the parsley) in a food processor and begin to process; add water as needed to allow the machine to produce a smooth puree.
2. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. 
3. Serve with a bit of fresh parsley or paprika. Enjoy!

I like to dip fresh bell pepper, carrots, cauliflower, and cucumber with the hummus! I also use it as a spread on my turkey sandwiches, instead of using mustard. 

*Use organic ingredients whenever possible

*Recipe derived from Epicurious

Black Bean Burgers - Meatless Meals!

I was chatting with a friend and she gave me the idea to start a meatless section of my blog. So I will include recipes from the meal planning weeks as well as other recipes here on this section of the blog. I called these 'Meatless Meals' because a lot of them still require cheese and dairy, which some vegetarians don't eat. So, hence 'Meatless Meals' and not a true 'Vegetarian' section. Hope you all enjoy and maybe you can start a Meatless Monday with your family once a week...or more! We try to go meatless at least once a week. :)

Black Bean Burgers

Ingredients:

• 1 15-oz can organic black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 egg
• 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
• 1 cup whole wheat bread crumbs (I like to make my own by toasting bread and then placing in a food processor. You could also use gluten-free bread if needed.) 
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder (forgot this in the picture!)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Hot sauce to taste (optional)
• 1 to 2 TB organic EVOO
• Whole wheat (or gluten-free) hamburger buns
• Romaine lettuce
• Tomato, sliced
• Avocado, sliced

Directions:

Put beans in a large bowl and mash well with a fork or a potato masher. 

Add egg, yellow onion, bread crumbs (see picture), oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and hot sauce.

To make your own bread crumbs, toast bread well and place in food processor.
Pulse till a fine consistency.

Mix well to combine then shape into 6 patties.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat (I like to use avocado oil).

Arrange patties in a single layer (working in batches if needed) and cook, flipping once, until golden brown on both sides and cooked through, about 10 minutes total. 

Transfer to buns and top with lettuce, tomato, avocado, and any other toppings of your liking. Serve with sweet potato fries or a side salad.
Makes 6 burgers.

*Use organic ingredients whenever possible

Mexican Pizza - Meatless Meals!

Mexican Pizza 

Ingredients:

• Sprouted corn tortillas or whole grain tortillas 
• 1.5 cups salsa or tomato sauce
• 2 cups canned organic black beans or meat of your choice (I just use one can)
• 1 cup green pepper chopped
• 1/2 white onion
• 1/2 jalapeño pepper thinly sliced (optional)
• 1 cup freshly grated organic cheddar cheese
• 1 TB chili powder (optional)
• 2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1 lime
• 1 or 2 avocados

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400º. 

As oven is preheating, place tortillas on rack in oven for 3-4 minutes (until tortilla becomes hard but not crisp). 

Remove tortillas and first top with 1/4 cup salsa, a sprinkle of chili powder, 1/3 black beans, green peppers, onions, cheese, and topping with jalapeño (just eye ball all the ingredients when it comes to topping the tortilla...just go with how much you want).

Top toasted tortillas with salsa

Add black beans, green bell pepper, white onion (for my 3-yr old, I only put the black beans) 

Finally top with freshly grated cheddar cheese

Place tortillas back in oven and bake for 8-10 minutes.

Remove from oven and serve with a slice of lime, chopped romaine, avocado or sour cream. Delicious!!

(Since this will be a repeat meal for the next day, I just chop extra so I don't have to the next night and then all I have to do is prepare the tortillas and bake.)

*Use organic ingredients whenever possible

*Recipe from Food Babe