Hummus

When I am feeling hungry, I absolutely love to much on hummus and pita bread. Typically I keep these items stocked in my fridge straight from the local grocery store. However, upon a recent shopping trip in which I was disappointed to find that they were sold out, I decided to try my hand at making hummus. I was pleasantly surprised. My husband said that next time I could use less garlic. I also added cayenne pepper, which was fantastic. Next time, I would add a bit less liquid so the hummus was a bit pastier and less runny.

-Sarah

Hummus
From: http://mideastfood.about.com/od/appetizerssnacks/r/hummusbitahini.htm

Ingredients:
1 (16 ounce) can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans
1/4 cup liquid from can of chickpeas
3-5 tablespoons lemon juice (depending on taste)
1 1/2 tablespoons tahini
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:
Drain chickpeas and set aside liquid from can. Combine remaining ingredients in blender or food processor. Add 1/4 cup of liquid from chickpeas. Blend for 3-5 minutes on low until thoroughly mixed and smooth. Serve immediately with fresh, warm or toasted pita bread, or cover and refrigerate.
Variations: For a spicier hummus, add a sliced red chile or a dash of cayenne pepper.

Chocolatini

I recently spent a long girls road trip with my mother, aunts, and cousins. During this vacation, we came up with a brilliant idea to visit the local alcohol warehouse to pick up supplies for the night. That evening, we soon realized that we didn't have measuring cups in the hotel, so we resorted to filling up entire red dixie cups with our drink mixes. I probably had about three full cups of chocolatinis that evening, which resulted in sleeping on the toilet seat in the hotel lobby bathroom. Since that trip, my family has found delight in making sure I am never low on the ingredients for chocolatinis.

-Sarah

Chocolatini
Ingredients:
1 1/2 shots Godiva chocolate liqueur
1 1/2 shots creme de cacao
1/2 shot Smirnoff vodka
2 1/2 shots half-and-half

Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake and pour into a chilled cocktail glass.

Smashed Chickpea & Avocado Salad Sandwich

I found this recipe on Pinterest. This is a great easy-to-make sandwich that is delicious and tastes fresh! I personally added more avocado because I enjoy the taste. I also only used spinach leaves, and served it on Dave's Killer Bread. The recipe made enough to last 4 sandwiches.

-Sarah

Smashed Chickpea & Avocado Salad Sandwich
From: http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/smashed-chickpea-avocado-salad-sandwich/
Ingredients:
1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas or garbanzo beans
1 large ripe avocado
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
Juice from 1 lime
Salt and pepper, to taste
Bread of your choice
Fresh spinach leaves or other sandwich toppings: lettuce, tomato slices, sprouts, etc.

Directions
Rinse and drain the chickpeas. In a medium bowl, using a fork or potato masher smash the chickpeas and avocado together. Add in cilantro, green onion, and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Spread salad on bread and top with your favorite sandwich toppings.