Recipes

Simple Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

  2 cans garbanzo beans or a little more than 2 cups of freshly cooked garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

1/2-3/4 cup tahini

1 jar roasted red peppers, drained

2-4 cloves garlic, chopped

1/4-1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp salt

1-2 tsp freshly ground pepper

and a little less than 2 Tbl tamari (or substitute soy sauce) -- this is my secret ingredient :)

less than 1/2 cup of water to thin the hummus out while processing.

Place all ingredients (except the water) in a food processor.  Add water slowly, and blend until you reach the desired consistency.  Garnish with lightly toasted pine nuts, olive oil, and paprika.

Variations:  You can substitute the roasted red peppers with a combination of any of the following:  edamame, jalepenos, or artichokes.  My favorite combination involves replacing one can (or equivalent to) of the garbanzo beans for cannelini beans and instead of roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts.  The cannelini beans have a creamier consistency.  But the variation above is J's favorite, it is often made more often.  :)

Another variation note:  If you do not use roasted red peppers, you will likely need to up the olive oil.  Use your judgment.

Marinated Kale Salad  

(adapted from 30 Minute Vegan)

*eyeball all veggies to your preference.  you can never have enough.*

Raw Kale, chopped

Red and/or Yellow Peppers, seeded and chopped/diced

Carrots, chopped

Red Cabbage, chopped

Raw Almonds, sliced/chopped

Dressing: (if you have about 6 cups kale)

2-3 T Olive Oil

1-2 T freshly squeezed Lemon Juice

2 t Soy Sauce (or Tamari)

1 clove Garlic, pressed or minced

1 t Maple Syrup

Pepper to taste

Combine all veggies in a large bowl.  Whisk together dressing separately.  Distribute the dressing evenly amongst the salad.  Gently massage the dressing into the salad with your hands for 2-3 minutes.  You're marinating the kale at this point and it should be getting softer.  I stuck mine in the fridge for an additional 10 minutes to let things soak.  :)  If you haven't thrown in the almonds already, you can garnish the top with 'em.

Variations -- Add any vegetables you have on hand.  While eating it, I thought that some raisins might be nice.  You can probably substitute sesame oil for 1 T of olive oil mentioned above since you've got the soy sauce flavor going.