Jalapeno Lime Hummus without Tahini

I used to believe I wasn’t crazy about hummus.  I later found out I was crazy about hummus.  It was the tahini I wasn’t crazy about.

So here is the recipe I am crazy for.

Jalapeno Lime Hummus without Tahini

1-  15 oz Can Chickpea drain and rinse
1 clove garlic
Squirt olive oil spray
1/2 lime juice and zest
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
Small handful cilantro
1 to 2 tablespoons jarred jalapeno
Water to desired consistency

Put all but water in a food processor. Add water to desired consistency while you process until smooth. Serve with vegetables or chips for dipping.

Trash or Something to be Desired

I am a sucker for any repurposing.  I am not vegan so I can’t use that as an excuse.

Anyway I kept seeing chickpea liquid being whipped into meringue instead of fodder for the waste bin.

I wanted to try it with cocoa and see if it tasted like a pudding. I added 3 teaspoon of cocoa and 1/4 cup powdered sugar with a little Cream of Tatar. Armed with my trusty hand mixer I was about to give up. After about 15 minutes this is what I had.

I slung that stuff into some martini glasses. Ha!

After about an hour in the refrigerator it had deflated a little bit.

I have to admit it didn’t taste like pudding. More like a chocolate meringue with a touch of heartburn.  Yes, I got heartburn from the stuff. Pudding would never do that to me.

Trash or something to be desired?
I guess it depends on individual preferences.

Pad Thai Cucumber Salad

I used cucumber,  carrots, radishes, green peppers. You can use whatever you have available.  Zucchini and onion would be nice.

Pad Thai Cucumber Salad

Cut cucumber and assorted vegetable into “noodles” using a mandoline

Whatever won’t mandolin well, like green peppers, dice fine.

Just slather on dressing and serve.

Ingredients
1 large cucumber, mandolin
1  large carrot, mandolin
1/4 green bell pepper, chopped fine
4 radishes, chopped fine

Dressing
Juice of 1/2 lime and the zest
3 tbsp Soy sauce
1 tbsp Sriracha sauce
1 tbsp honey
1 clove of garlic, pressed
2 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped fine

A pic of my herb bed cilantro. I LOVE that stuff.

Oh my, I was nominated

I was nominated for this wonderful award by Suz at Garden to Kitchen.

It is called Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award. Thanks Suz.

It has taken me a while, but here are the rules-
thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their site

put the award logo on your blog

answer the ten questions they have set for you

make up ten new questions for your nominees to answer

nominate seven people

Now I’m supposed to answer some questions so here goes-
1. Who was your childhood hero?
I didn’t have one. I felt mostly let down by the world.
2. Who is your adult hero?
Jesus Christ
3. What did you want to do when you grew up?
Go into commercial art
4. Did you end up doing this, or how different has your life turned out?
No , I ended up eventually starting my own business
5. What would you do with your life if you could?
Travel
6. How long have you had your blog?
About 8 years
7. What do you most like to do when you are not blogging?
Boating, motorcycle trips, camping, gardening and cooking
8. Where would you most like to blog from if you could choose anywhere in the world?
Italy
9. What has your blogging taught you?
That no one is an island
10. Has your blog achieved what you wanted it to?
Yes. I only blog for the fun of it.

Now for my questions.
1- Did you have a childhood pet and what was it
2- Do you think you will ever intentionally stop blogging
3- What is your favorite food
4- Does your significant other blog, if you have one
5- Do you cut out and use store coupons
6- If you could live in any other time period what year would it be
7- Which one kitchen device could you not do without
8- What one thing makes you happiest
9- How many blogging awards do you have
10- Is there a word that irks you

And I nominate. …..
Super Mom Meals
Homegrown and Homemade
The Hungry Homemaker Blog
I Need A Feed
What’s For Dinner Doc
Cooking For The Fam
Ocean View Kitchen

Summer Squash Ratatouille

I’m trying again. Trying to grow eggplant.

I have yet to be successful so I have to improvise if I have one of my favorite dishes, ratatouille. This is a throw together with no real measuring. Just layer with plenty of garlic and basil.

I always freeze enough summer squash for months of this dish, so that is what I use.

I freeze the blanched slices of summer squash about 3/4 to 1 inch thick. I’m also using frozen basil here.

I start off by spraying a low rimmed casserole dish with olive oil and then layer onions, green peppers, basil, sea salt and garlic. I top that with my frozen pieces of summer squash and mozzarella cheese.

Another spray of olive oil.

Layer more onion, basil, garlic, salt and green peppers.

Top that with a layer of tomato.

Then a bread crumb parmesan topping on top of that. I added a bit of fresh parsley to the bread crumbs too.

Press the topping down over the layers and spray with oil again. Cover with aluminum foil tightly. Bake in a 350 degree oven about one hour 15 minutes. Uncover and place back in the oven long enough for the bread crumbs to brown.

Pretty easy just layers of onion, green peppers, garlic, basil, summer squash, tomato, salt and olive oil spray with a parmesan bread crumb topping.

I like to serve it on top of spaghetti with garlic toast.

Anyway keep your fingers crossed that I will be successful growing eggplant this year.

In the meantime here are some pics of a few things growing well so far.

Radish

Strawberries

Chives and baby kale

Lettuce, cabbage, and onion.

A lot of things aren’t peeping out of the ground yet.

Oh please little eggplants…grow!

I am sharing this with Tell em Tuesday #11

Sausage Lentil and Kale Soup

Baby kale covered up right now so I’m trying something new. A soup more in line with fall, but it tasted great with a grilled cheese this spring.

This was adapted from one of Rachel Ray’s recipes.

Sausage Lentil and Kale Soup

1/2 pound breakfast sausage
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 bay leaf
1 stem fresh rosemary
1 carrot, finely chopped
5 spring onions sliced, tops included
1 potato, peeled and cut into small dice
3 tablespoons tomato ketchup
1 bunch baby spring kale
Dash nutmeg
6 cups water
3 teaspoons powdered chicken bouillon
1 1/4 cups dry lentils , cleaned and rinsed well
Garlic salt to taste

Simply brown and drain grease from your breakfast sausage.  Add all other ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer about one hour. Remove bay leaf and rosemary stem before serving.

Scalded Greens

It is that time of year again. Harvesting greens and onion.

I have heard this called roadkill greens or wilted greens.

I always called it scalded greens.

Scalded Greens

Big bowl mixed leaf lettuce and baby kale mixed
Lots of green spring onion, tops included, chopped
For dressing
3 tablespoons bacon grease
4 tablespoons vinegar
5 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water

Simply heat all dressing ingredients. Pour dressing,  while warm, over the large bowl of greens and onion. Mix well. The greens will wilt. Serve immediately.

Sharing with Let’s get Real Friday #89

Fresh Mint Brownie in a Mug

My herb bed sits near our garage.

The mint is comanding that it be eradicated. It is taking over to the point of growing into the garage foundation and inside the walls.

I pulled and yanked and cut.

Of course I had to leave a small patch for the year. I have to have a little patch for my brownie in a mug.

Doesn’t little mug cakes and brownies make one feel special? They are so easy and specific.

The mint flavor is not overpowering, so if you want it really minty you might add a dash of mint extract.

Fresh Mint Brownie in a Mug

3 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons fresh chopped mint ( mine is peppermint but any should do)
1/2 tablespoon canola oil
Pinch sea salt
3 tablespoons water

Just mix all in your fav mug and pop in the microwave about 1 minute 10 seconds. Serve warm with ice cream or any topping you like. I like mine plain.

Serves one at 263 calories.

I’m telling this at Tell Em Tuesday. Read some great content and meet other bloggers there. See you there!

Wacky Mac Antipasto Pasta Salad

Who can’t love a pasta called Wacky Mac.

It is a wheat pasta combined with dried vegetables.  Tomato, spinach, carrots,  and even beets.

Wacky Mac Antipasto  Pasta Salad

Servings: 12

Ingredients:
1 pkg (12 oz.) WACKY MAC Veggie pasta uncooked
1/2 cup diced green peppers
1/4 cup pepperoncini peppers minced
1 cup sliced black olives
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
3 tablespoons sun dried tomatoes diced
1/3 cup vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
1 ounce sliced pepperoni
Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Instructions:
Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Rinse with cold water to cool quickly; drain well. Toss all together lightly until well blended. Season to taste. Cover; refrigerate to blend flavors. 10 to 12 servings.
Serves: 10-12

Let’s party at Let’s Get Real Party #88