Tag: hummus

  • Game Day Eats

    Game Day Eats

    Are you planning a Super Bowl party this weekend? While pizza, wings and chips tend to be the traditional Super Bowl Sunday fare, consider lightening up the menu with a few healthy options!

    But don’t be disillusioned, these lighter dishes pack a serious flavor punch. They are sure to please any crowd – in fact, I bet no one will know they are healthy!

    We have scoured our site for the best recipes for your Super Bowl shindig — namely a killer vegan chili and some delicious dips! Check out the recipes below . . .

    In case you need a pep talk to get your Super Bowl entertaining on, view our articles on Best Dishes for Entertaining a Crowd and Planning Makes Perfect.  There’s nothing worse than not being able to enjoy your own party!

    Our Favorite Veggie Chili

    VeggieChili

    5-Ingredient Guacamole

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    White Bean Dip with Seasoned Pita Chips

    white bean dip

    Creamy Cauliflower Hummus

    CauliflowerHummus

  • Cauliflower Hummus

    Cauliflower Hummus

    I recently ordered a veggie burger at a restaurant, and it came topped with a big dollop of cauliflower hummus.  It was fabulous—it tasted very much like traditional chickpea hummus, but it wasn’t as heavy.  I guess that makes sense.  With less than 30 calories per cup, boiled cauliflower is much lighter than boiled chickpeas (269 calories per cup.)  I came home from my restaurant experience and immediately started experimenting to create my own cauliflower hummus.  Why not?  Even though I love traditional chickpea hummus, there’s certainly nothing wrong with a copycat version that I can eat with reckless abandon and not feel overwhelmingly full afterwards.

    Please note that this is a very mild tasting hummus.  Feel free to experiment with your own version to suit your palate.  I used steamed cauliflower, but you can oven roast the cauliflower with a bit of olive oil instead.  You can also add a clove or two of garlic to intensify the flavor.CauliflowerHummus

     

    Ingredients:
    1 medium cauliflower, chopped and steamed until soft
    1 tablespoon almond butter
    2 tablespoons tahini
    1 teaspoon ground cumin
    ½  teaspoon paprika
    Juice from ½ large lemon
    ½ teaspoon salt

    Place all ingredients into a food processor, and process until smooth.

     

  • Thanksgiving Starters, Sides & Desserts

    Thanksgiving Starters, Sides & Desserts

    Thanksgiving is one week away. Is your Thanksgiving dinner menu planned? If you are still searching for starters, sides and desserts, we have some great recipes for you.  In fact, they are not only delicious dishes, but they are healthy alternatives to traditional Thanksgiving favorites.

    Check out some of our favorite recipes below:

    A wonderful, light and delicious appetizer is our White Bean Dip with Seasoned Pita Chips.

    white bean dip

    And, what better way to start your dinner than with a savory Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Sage Croutons?

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    Looking for a festive salad? Try our Harvest Salad with Arugula, Roasted Butternut Squash and Quinoa.

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    We have some great sides to accompany your turkey or veggie loaf, including our Balsamic Brussel Sprouts.

    BrusselSproutsPicRoasted Sweet Potatoes.

    HowToRoastVeggies

    And, our Smashed Potatoes.

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    For dessert, we try our Apple Raisin Clafoutis.

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    And, our Maple Sweet Potato Pie!

    sweet potato pie

    We hope some of our delicious starters, sides and desserts make it onto your table this holiday season!

  • White Bean Dip with Seasoned Pita Chips

    White Bean Dip with Seasoned Pita Chips

    white bean dipThis white bean dip recipe that I’m sharing with you is a modified version of a dip that I found in a Giada DeLaurentiis cookbook (Everyday Italian) years ago.  It’s become our hummus alternative.  In fact, it’s a family favorite and frequently graces our events (right alongside my husband’s famous guacamole!).  And, it very may well be on the menu this Memorial Day weekend!

    It’s really a cinch to make.  With only a few ingredients, and a food processor on hand, you will have a delicious homemade white bean dip in no time!

    I serve my dip with seasoned pita chips — a homemade take on a store-bought favorite.  This too requires very little effort and, I bet you have most, if not all, of the ingredients in your pantry.  Once you make homemade pita chips, you will turn your nose up at the store-bought kind! The pita chip recipe follows as well.

    As with most of our recipes, this one can be modified and adapted to suit your needs and tastes.  You will also notice that we generally “season to taste” which allows you to control the amount of spices, specifically salt.

    Enjoy!

    white bean fp upcloseWhite Bean Dip

    Yields approximately 2 cups of dip.

    2, 15 ounce cans of white cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
    1/2 cup of olive oil
    1/2 cup of parsley
    1 clove of garlic, crushed
    1 teaspoon of salt
    1/8 teaspoon of pepper
    4 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice

    Add beans, olive oil, parsley, garlic, salt, pepper and juice of one lemon to the bowl of a food processor.  Pulse until combined and creamy.

    Serve with homemade pita chips (recipe follows) or fresh veggies.

    pita  upclose
    Homemade Seasoned Pita Chips

    four large, whole wheat pita rounds, cut into eighths
    olive oil
    oregano
    garlic powder
    salt
    pepper

    Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

    Arrange pita on an oiled sheet pan (you might need two depending on the size of your pan).  Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

    Bake for 10-15 minutes until toasted and lightly browned.

    Pita will harden as it sits.