Jojo and Paul's Hummus RECIPE + A Late Thanksgiving Recap

A picture of the recipe!! 

Hey there Clean Eaters!!

I know it is already past November (but not to late to participate in the challenge!), but I still feel the need to recap my awesome Turkey Day!!

I also am including an awesome recipe from my cousins, Jojo and Paul!

Thursday:

We woke up that morning, and I did an awesome leg workout to start the day off right. We headed out to my grandmother's house, about an hours drive away, in East Texas. We were going to be staying until Saturday, because there was another family get together that day that we all were going to.

Because the Saturday get together was going to be bigger, we decided to not do much for Thursday. It was going to just be my mom, sister, uncle, grandmother and I on Thanksgiving day, so there really was no need to do anything special food wise when Saturday would make up for it!

Anyways, I made a dish for myself (and the others, if they wanted it!) while everyone else had squash and broccoli casserole, some quick make stuffing, and mashed potatoes. My grandmother ordered half a smoked turkey from a local barbecue shop (SO DELICIOUS!). Dessert was some Mary Calender pie.

Like I wrote about in my "Healthy Thanksgiving" guide, many home made dishes are indeed, not so "home made". All these items had such processed, pre-made, and canned ingredients (trust me, I helped my grandmother make them). I was more than happy to make some separate, whole food items for myself and anyone else who wanted it.

My dinner was half an acorn squash stuffed with a raisin-pecan stuffing, and some turkey! 

Saturday:

That morning, I woke up and did a shoulder and cardio workout before heading out to the get together.

My breakfast was simple, lettuce wraps with some egg and leftover turkey. 

I was SUPER excited to get to see all the family and friends at the party! I knew at least some dishes I could enjoy, because my whole-food enthusiast cousins, Jojo and Paul, always bring healthy stuff.

Seriously... these guys are AMAZING. Paul used to be a chef, for one thing! They also make their own jams and hot sauces, pictured above (from the fruit off their own fruit trees, and the vegetables from their own garden!!).

They are on a new kick, involving sprouts. They brought in a giant sprout salad made of tons of sprout varieties... they even had broccoli sprouts! The dressing was wonderful, a blend of tomatoes and basil with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. They also brought some goat cheese spreads, which I sampled (I don't think my stomach liked it too much after the fact. Darn lactose intolerance!)

Oh, did I mention they pickle their vegetables too?

My plate ended up looking like this: A leg from the turkey (I actually ended up eating both...), some sprout salad, pickled veggies and hummus, and some goat cheese topped with some of my cousin's home made jam!

AWFUL picture. I know.

I also decided to treat myself. Paul made a coconut cake... an incredibly non-healthy one at that. He used sugar, regular butter, and other milk products... things I ALWAYS steer clear away from.

However, I eat 100% clean and healthy 365 days a year. You know my feelings towards the 80/20 rule, and how "moderation" doesn't work for me. So if I ever crave a sweet, I make my own healthy version... but, this cake was not processed. Sure, he used sugar... but it wasn't the fake, harmful kind. Yes it had other ingredients I didn't agree with, but you know what? It was anything BUT something that I could buy from the store, full of chemicals.

So... I had some! Boy, was it yummy. However, my stomach SERIOUSLY didn't agree. I actually woke up the next day vomiting (sorry for TMI, but I speak the truth here on Clean Eating Teen!)

Kinda just goes to show that your body KNOWS what is good for it, and what isn't, huh? ;)

Now, on to the recipe I promised!! This is the recipe for the hummus Jojo and Paul brought.

Jojo and Paul's Hummus

4 cloves garlic
1 tsp sea salt
process first in food processor to chop garlic fine.

2 15 oz cans garbanzo beans (good store brand or Progresso) drained but reserve liquid.
1/4 cup tahini (important do not leave out)
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper
juice of 1 lemon

Process with garlic in food processor until smooth adding reserved garbanzo liquid as needed to get desired consistency.

And there you have it folks!! A recap of my awesome Thanksgiving, plus a super yummy recipe that I suggest trying NOW. It is so much cheaper, and tastier, than buying store bought. It is even better than my past hummus recipes! 

How was your Thanksgiving? What did you eat?

Have you ever made your own hummus?

Natalie 

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Basil Curry Hummus!

As sad as it is, I must speak the truth. Sometimes, prices of food are just too high to be purchasing certain items as frequently as I would like.

Yes, Sabra, I am looking at you. 

I posted a recipe for hummus before and discussed this topic. Even though I LOVE the smooth, cool, creaminess of a good ol' tub of Sabra, I just can't purchase a $7-8 tub of the stuff each week (which is about how fast I use it!).

I've found it SO much cheaper to just make my own. I used mixed beans last time, but this time I went traditional and used garbanzo beans. I can easily find an organic brand, with the only ingredients being sea salt and beans, for around a buck at my local Kroger.  

Basil Curry Hummus

1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

2 TBSP olive oil

1/3 cup unsalted chicken or vegetable stock

2-3 basil leaves 

1 TBSP curry powder 

1) Place all ingredients into a blender.

2) Blend until smooth. If your blender is not the best, as mine is not, you may have to periodically stop the blender and mix the hummus around so that all the beans are blended. Add extra stock as needed.

And there you go! How EASY is that? 

What I love about making your own is that you can throw anything you want into the blender. Roasted peppers, extra garlic, even jalapeno! 

You can put this stuff on anything, use it as a dip, or a base for other dips/sauces. Do what I did and have on a slice of some home made whole grain bread! 

How do you like your hummus? 

Have you ever made your own?

Natalie 

Avocado Hummus Recipe!

I love hummus.
I discovered it a few years ago and fell in love. I can't exactly remember how, but I was probably just sick of reading so much about it on the blogs and recipe sites I am subscribed to, and decided it was about time I bought some of my own. Enter... the Sabra obsession. 



Curse you, you creamy, cool, delicious container of brown mush.

Anyway, I know that I am not alone with the hummus trend going on here. One of my favorite bloggers (whom I have mentioned before), is Else from Hungry Hungry Hippie... she too is a proclaimed Sabra fanatic! 

And how could anyone not be? I understand if you are living a Paleo lifestyle, beans are not part of your diet (I hope you have access to some Paleo hummus recipes or something!), but otherwise... addiction to this stuff is quick!

Lately we have been trying to save some cash, and a large tub of Sabra (or really, most brands) can ring up anywhere from $5-$7... and my family much rather spend that on other items. So, I decided I would try and make my own, cheaper- yet still as delicious- version!

I added avocado for a bit more flavor and healthy fat content!

I just mashed this up myself, and it obviously came out chunkiet than regular hummus (I actually liked it that way)... however, next go around I plan to use a food processor or blender. 

Avocado Hummus

1 avocado
1 can beans (I used a can of mixed beans, but you can use any)
1 TBSP melted coconut oil
1 TBSP garlic powder
Dash of cumin
Dash of Paprika
Fresh lemon juice
chopped fresh cilantro

1) Drain and rinse your beans.

2) Split open and take the seed out of the avocado, and scoop the meat in a bowl (or blender, if you use that method). (I know this part was obvious, but I just love how pretty avocados look!)

3) Combine all ingredients into a bowl and mash it up with a fork or potato masher (or simply press the "on" button for your blender...)

That's it! I thought the hummus had a wonderful, summery taste... plus that cilantro really gives it a kick.
I used this with just regular veggies, but also loved to spread a bit on my home made bread, or one of those lettuce wraps I mentioned in my first WIAW.

This recipe really is cheaper than buying Sabra (I still love them though. If they ever want people to review their products, they know who to contact!). For the time being, I will be making this stuff regularly!

Have you ever tried hummus?
What do you eat it with?

Natalie