Today's Praise: Latitude 34 Crisps (http://www.34-degrees.com/)

Today's Recipe: Homemade Hummus

So I've been at this veggie thing for about two weeks, but now that I am blogging about it I feel like I'm more aware of what I eat from a veggie standpoint (I journal everything I eat anyway). One of the things that's also important to me is to be a veggie without eating all the processed meat substitutes that are out there. Not that I'll NEVER eat them, but I am much more into fresh ingredients.

I am working in a different office this week, about two hours away from home. I like to eat out, but not every day, so instead of using my per diem to eat out every night, I went hog wild in the Organic section of the grocery store. I also made some things at home and brought them with me, since I'm staying in a hotel with a kitchen.

One of my goodies is homemade hummus. Check it out:

One can of Chick Peas, drained and rinsed well
Two cloves of garlic
Lemon Juice
Water
Olive Oil
S&P
Fresh Cilantro, finely chopped

Put garlic in food processor and mince. Add chick peas, about a tablespoon of lemon juice, tablespoon of olive oil, salt and pepper to taste and pulse away. Add water a little at a time to get the consistency you want. Adjust S&P to taste. Remove from food processor to bowl and mix in about 1 to 1-1/2 tablespoons of the minced fresh cilantro. Serve with crackers and chopped up olives and veggies!

A few notes: Notice - no Tahini! Tahini is really expensive, and the only difference I notice is that the hummus comes out a little thicker and chunkier and less creamy when you eliminate the Tahini. I personally like it that way, but if you'd like to add a little Tahini go for it. I'd start with about a tablespoon. Also, I prefer to add the chopped cilantro outside of the food processor so that it stays in pieces throughout the hummus. If you add it while in the processor it will just turn your hummus green (if you like green food, go for it!)

This is on my lunch menu today along with some kalamata olives and some Sesame Crisps from Latitude 34 (these things are awesome - very Calorie friendly for Crackers!!).

Check them out and Happy Hump Day!