Hummus recipie - Vita-Mix or Blentec

Image by Frank Kendralla


 Hummus recipie


You might ask, why should I make my own hummus when I can go to the local store and buy a large tub for around $7. First, I like to experiment with flavors without contending with the extra cost associated to it. Second, although I love good garlic in my humms, it does impact life outside the home. :-D  Therefore, I reduce the amount of garlic normally called for in some recipies.  Unless of course you can find the odorless garlic in your local store.

In this recipie, I reduced the amount of garlic and added a few other ingredients. I used roasted peppers that can be found in most local stores. I purchased a large jar from Costco. We love the taste of toasted sesame oil and used it to add a very unique taste to the hummus. It is amazing how fast and easy it is to make great tasting hummus. If you use a vita-mix, start on slow and gradually increase to the fastest speed and stop when everything is mixed to a fine consistency. On the blentec, I used the juice setting but experiment with one of the other settings if the consistency of the mix isn’t smooth enough. All total this took less than 10-15 minutes including the time to find everything in the pantry.

Below is the basic outline for the recipie. Modify according to what you enjoy.

 2 15 oz. cans garbanzo beans, one drained and one with liquid
 
1-2 large roasted red peppers


1 - 2 Tablespoons toasted sesame oil

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/2 clove garlic

1 teaspoon cumin
 
A whole bunch of love.  :-D
 
I served this on a millet and flax flatbread with a few baby spinich leaves and slices of locally grown tomatoes.  Wow! Is all I can say. 
 

Summer veggie smoothie recipie

You might know that I have been a “health nut” for over three decades (actually over 35 years).  Since my late teens, I have studied and researched nutrition and other health related items.  In fact, we (my wife and I) became a Certified Nutritional Health Professional (CNHP) many years ago in an effort to learn more about health related subjects.  Although we do not practice as counselors, a few tips a few times per month might be in order.

Today’s tip is my favorite veggie smoothie.  We own both the Vita-Mix and Blentec.  Each has advantages over the other but either machine in their own right are outstanding and I recommend you buy the one that you feel comfortable with after testing.  It comes down to a few differences.  I compared both machines on a previous post.

Summer – Veggie – Smoothie

Put the ingredients in the container in the order listed:

1-2 Roma Tomatoes

Handful of grape or cherry tomatoes

1-2 Stalks of celery

Handful of ‘baby’ carrots or 1 large carrot

3 small peppers (orange, red, and/or yellow) include the seeds

Baby spinach (as much as you can fit :-D)

Tex-Mex or South West spice to taste

1 Cup water

1 cup ice

If you want a different taste or do not like Tex Mex spices, try a vegetable bullion cube or use a spice combination that you enjoy.  I like lots of flavor but you might want to add an Italian spice.

If you are using the Blentec, use the juice setting.  If it isn’t smooth enough after blending then select smoothie after the juice cycle finishes.  Vita-Mix users, start on the slow then slowly increases to the highest speed.  Taste and share (maybe :-D).

If you want your veggie drinks to have more tomato taste then add more tomatoes, if you like more green, then add more spinach.  

For a different flavor and more kick, add a dash of hot pepper or small jalapeño. 

This is a tremendous drink for any meal.  This is similar to the warm you up soup version which I will share at a different date.

Enjoy!