Monday, February 22, 2016

CBS Newsletter Recipe of the Month - Green Goddess Hummus

Sara's recipe pick for the CBS Newsletter this month comes from CookieandKale. I am not a fan of 'adulterating' my hummus, only classic 'the way my grandmother would have made it in the old country will do' for this girl, but I realized that some people want a different flavor, so give this one a try. A good food processor is a must for any kitchen and it will make preparing this dish a lot smoother if you have one!

**My Kimba's Kitchen Suggestions:
1 - skip the water and use extra lemon juice it will really help to 'brighten' the flavor
2 - when serving add a light dusting (1-2 shakes) of paprika (I prefer Hungarian as it has a slightly smokier and sweeter flavor), the red will really pop under the herb garnish!
3 - there can never be to much garlic don't be afraid to add an extra clove (or two!!)
4 - personal preference to add fresh cracked black pepper as well as salt
5 - tahini is also known as 'taheen' and can be spelled both ways depending on country of origin - I use the brand in the photo, you will have to stir it to combine and oil and paste (this is a small chore)

Yield: About 1 ¾ cup

Ingredients:
•¼ cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
•¼ cup fresh lemon juice (about 1 large lemon's worth)
•2 Tbsp. olive oil, plus more for serving
•½ cup roughly chopped, loosely packed fresh parsley
•¼ cup roughly chopped, loosely packed fresh tarragon
•2 to 3 Tbsp. roughly chopped fresh chives
•1 large garlic clove, roughly chopped
•½ tsp. salt or more to taste
•One (15-ounce) can of chickpeas (a.k.a. garbanzo beans), drained & rinsed
•1 to 2 Tbsp. water, optional
•Garnish with extra olive oil and a sprinkling of chopped fresh herbs

Directions:
1.) Whip the tahini & lemon juice together until ultra smooth and creamy. Combine the tahini and lemon juice in bowl of smaller food processor or high-powered blender. Process for about 1½ min., pausing to scrape down sides of bowl as needed.
2.) Add the olive oil, parsley, tarragon, chives, garlic & salt to the whipped tahini & lemon juice mixture. Process for about 1 min., pausing to scrape down sides of bowl as needed.
3.) Add half of the chickpeas to food processor and process for 1 min.. Scrape down the bowl, then add remaining chickpeas and process until the hummus is thick & smooth (about 1 to 2 min. more).
4.) If your hummus is too thick or hasn't yet blended until creamy, run the food processor while drizzling in 1-2 Tbsp. water until it reaches desired consistency.
5.) Scrape the hummus into a small serving bowl. Drizzle about a tablespoon of olive oil on top and sprinkle with additional chopped herbs.
6.) Store hummus in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to one week.

ENJOY!!!

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Crock Pot Pumpkin Lentil Chili

February Support Group Newsletter featured this recipe from KitchenTreaty.com - and in case you misplaced your hard copy of the newsletter, here is the recipe and info!!



Make life a little simpler for yourself by using your slow cooker more often. This super easy recipe takes a different vegetarian spin on chili and proves to still pack in tons of flavor & nutrition. Unlike beef, lentils contain no saturated fat or cholesterol and are much cheaper in price than ground beef at this time. You can find a 16 oz. package of lentils for approx $1.25, whereas the price of ground beef has risen above $4.00/pound.

Yield: Approximately 6-8 servings

Ingredients:
•Two 15-ounce cans kidney beans, drained
•2 cups vegetable broth (choose low sodium for heart health)
•Two 15-ounce cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes
•1 cup dry red lentils
•1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
•1 cup chopped yellow onion (about 1/2 a medium onion)
•1 medium jalapeno pepper, minced (taste pepper for heat
and add another. For milder chili, scrape out the seeds.)
•1 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
•1 Tbsp. chili powder
•2 tsp. cumin
•1/2 tsp. cinnamon
•1/8 tsp. cloves
•1 tsp. kosher salt
•Optional topping: Shredded cheese
Directions:
1)Add all ingredients to a 3-quart or larger crock pot and stir thoroughly.
2)Cook on high for 4 - 5 hours OR on low for 8 - 10 hours until lentils are tender and chili is thick and hearty. Top with a 1-2 tablespoons of shredded cheese and enjoy!

ENJOY!!!