How To Enter the Kitchen Aid Giveaway Today:

For today’s entry – Tweet about the contest: “@ZestyCook is hosting a 12 Days of  @KitchenAidUSA Christmas giveaway!  Enter to win a KitchenAid mixer!  (http://wp.me/pimYR-1Kv).”   Must leave a comment on this post with the link to the tweet for the entry to be valid.  If you do not have twitter, you can just comment and tell a friend about it and let me know.

Super Yum Basil Hummus

Get your crackers ready, slice that pita bread in triangles and get ready for a dip.  You know what I am talking about.  Who does not like homemade hummus?  Who does not like basil infused hummus?  Well, roll up your sleeves, grab your food processor and give this a whirl.  It takes all of 5 minutes to make and you will not be disappointed in the least.

It sort of makes sense, doesn’t it? Like a cross between hummus and pesto. The basil and the pine nuts bring life to the hummus. A little tomato paste adds a touch of sweetness and the hot sauce adds just a little zing. This was a hit with everyone who tried it, so I hope you like it too.  Basil is pretty easy to get all year round but fresh homemade basil in late summer would be the cat’s *%s for this dish.

Ingredients

• 1/4 Cup pine nuts
• 2 Cups sweet basil leaves, packed
• 3 cloves garlic, smashed then minced
• 2 19 oz cans garbanzo beans (chickpeas), rinsed and drained
• 1/4 Cup olive oil
• 1/3 Cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 Tsp. Salt
• 1/2 Tsp. Hot Sauce
• 1 Tsp. Tomato paste

Method

1. Heat the pine nuts in a small skillet on medium high heat. Stir them when they start to brown. When most of them have lightly browned, remove them from the pan into a bowl to cool. (Reserve a few pine nuts for garnish.)
2. In the bowl of a food processor, place the basil leaves and the garlic. Pulse until finely chopped.
3. Add the rinsed and drained garbanzo beans, most of the pine nuts, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, tomato paste, and a few dashes of Tabasco. Pulse several times, for several seconds each time, until the hummus is smooth.
4. Add more Hot sauce and salt or lemon juice to taste.
5. Add water to the point of desired consistency.
6. To serve, place in a bowl and drizzle a little olive oil over it. Sprinkle with a few toasted pine nuts. Serve with pita wedges, crackers, or rustic bread.  Maybe even just a spoon!

Zesty Tip:  If the hummus sits for a day or two in the fridge, I like to drizzle a little olive oil over the top as it will begin to tighten up.  The olive oil will bring it back to the correct consistency.

Contest Recap

For today’s entry – Tweet about the contest: “@ZestyCook is hosting a 12 Days of @KitchenAidUSA Christmas giveaway!  Enter to win a KitchenAid mixer! (http://wp.me/pimYR-1Kv).”   Must leave a comment on this post with the link to the tweet for the entry to be valid.  If you do not have twitter, you can just comment and tell a friend about it and let me know.

Previous Ways to Enter

1. Please “like” the Zesty Cook facebook page and come back and tell me you did it. If you are already a “liker,” leave a comment telling me you are already a fan.
2. Tell me your favorite holiday tradition and leave a comment telling me.
3. Tell Zesty your favorite Holiday dish

Please be sure to leave separate comments for each entry to increase your chance to win! 

Ok, I better get going here and get to the office.  Try this hummus and tell me if you love it!  I received a nice comment last night on my about page from a long time reader apparently.  Made me smile.  Have a great day and talk to you on Friday!

Take care

zesty

Download my Free Recipe Book: Simply Zesty

Thursday is here and I am so excited to write this post that I cannot type the words fast enough.  Our house has finally sold and now we are onto the building process.  Can you say overwhelming?  So the deal has been in the works for about 4 weeks and I kept the news quiet because well … I tend to have bad luck.  We had received a conditional offer on the house back in early April and we were excited to say the least.  Things went well including the building inspection, the buyers financing and all the conditions were removed.  As of yesterday, it is a DONE deal.

Zesty is pumped!!  I was so excited last night that I didn’t even make a real meal.  I am trying to organize the building of the new house with getting permits, meeting the architect, soil tests, not too mention packing/moving.  Oh do I dread packing.

I am calling all readers to send me packing tips in the comments or email me.  So without a “real” supper I decided to whip up a batch of hummus and go with some Kashi crackers (that I love).

Here is what I did for the hummus.

Ingredients

• 1 15 oz can chickpeas drained
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• Juice of 1 lemon
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• 2 tablespoons tahini
• 2 Tablespoons virgin olive oil

Method

1. Place all ingredients in your food processor with the S blade and puree to desired consistency.
2. Add a little purified water to get a nice creamy consistency.
3. Taste and adjust flavors to your liking.
4. ENJOY!

Zesty Tip: For variety try adding ½ cup fresh parsley and ½ teaspoon cumin for a more Middle Eastern flavor.  This easy hummus recipe can be made even more nutritious by using sprouted chickpeas. Simply substitute 2 cups sprouted chickpeas for the canned ones.

If you can’t already tell, I am super excited about the house selling and finally moving on to the building process.  This summer will be very busy, crazy and hectic with work , the house and of course zestycook.com.  Never fear though, zesty will not lack in attention and/or quality.  I hope you have a great Thursday and of course I will see you Friday for some more fun and excitement.

Take care

zesty

Download my Free Recipe Book: Simply Zesty

Happy Tuesday!  I know this post is just a sandwich but it’s an interesting and tasty sandwich that I threw together over the weekend.  Pork chops were on sale at the super market so I decided to pick them up.  I was craving avocado and hummus as well.  That is when I clued in – lets create a new sandwich!  I simply pan fried the pork chops with a little olive oil and salt and pepper. Let them cook through but allowed them to remain juicy. After that just add your hummus and sliced avocado and it is complete.

This is super simple with a nice balance of flavors and texture.

Ingredients

• Sliced Pork Chop (cut on the bias)
• Sliced Avocado (drizzled with lemon)
• Hummus
• Bread or Rolls (Toasted)

Method

1. Cook the pork chops (to your liking).
2. Preheat oven or toaster oven.
3. Place rolls or bread inside and toast.
4. Slice avocado and top with lemon juice.
5. Once bread is toasted, add liberal amount of hummus.
6. Top with sliced cooked pork.
7. Add Avocado on top.
8. Close the sandwich.
9. ENJOY!

Zesty Tip: If you have left over bread that is a few days old.  The best way to make it stretch is to toast it.  It will still test fresh when toasted.  Another option is to cube up the old bread, toast it in the oven and add it in the food processor for homemade bread crumbs.

I would love to know what you think about this sandwich combination.  For my vegan readers out there…. omit the pork and add a roasted portabella mushroom.

Hope you have a great Tuesday and I look forward to hearing from you.

Take care

zesty

Download my Free Recipe Book: Simply Zesty

It is a new day and yet another simplistic recipe that will tantalize your taste buds… well I should say  – maybe tantalize your taste buds. Everyone’s different.  This is a great quick supper idea when you are in a rush or lazy and unsure about what to make but you want to stay on the healthy side of the spectrum.  Which I know for a lot people is very important including myself.

I put together a chicken sandwich that is somewhat unique but when you taste it… you will be like “Wow, Zesty really does have something going”, or “that Zesty guy is a loose horse – this is terrible”  I will leave that judgment up to you.

Now lets get to the good stuff.  Follow along below and let me know what you think.

Ingredients

• A loaf of fresh Baguette
• Some of your favorite Hummus
• Roasted Chicken Breast ( sliced )
• Baby Spinach
• Red Pepper Jelly ( see below for recipe )

Method

1. First off slice some pieces of Baguette on the bias ( this will give you more surface area for your toppings ).



2. Toast the bread in a toaster oven or regular oven until golden brown.



3. Once toasted, add some hummus to the top of the bread.



4. Add spinach on top and give it a little press and it will stick to the hummus and not fall out everywhere.



5. Place some sliced chicken on top of the spinach.



6. Top the chicken with some red pepper jelly.  You can use store bought jelly or homemade – your choice ( I like to go with homemade ).



7. Enjoy!

As promised I added in this simple Red Pepper Jelly recipe.

Ingredients

• 4 lg. red bell peppers (about), seeded
• 5 1/2 c. sugar
• 1/3 c. fresh lemon juice
• 1 pkg. fruit pectin
• 3/4 c. distilled white or wine vinegar

Method

1. Finely chop peppers in processor or run through grinder.
2. Strain, pressing lightly. Measure 2 full cups and 1/4 cup pepper juice. Discard remaining juice.
3. Combine ground peppers, pepper juice, sugar and vinegar in 3-4 quart saucepan.
4. Bring to boil, stirring frequently.
5. Remove from heat and let stand 15 minutes. Reheat to boil, stirring frequently.
6. Add lemon juice and return to boil for 1 minute, stirring. Add pectin and let boil 3 minutes, skimming off foam as it accumulates.
7. Pour into jars. Invert jars for 10 minutes. Upright jars and store in a cool place.

Yield: Makes 7 half pints.

Sorry for the lengthy post, but I had to share with you the stare of the sandwich.  Red Pepper Jelly is very versatile and great with cream cheese and crackers as well.  Let me know what you think of this sandwich and if you have time - I would love to hear your favorite sandwich of all time!

This is going to be fun.  Have a great Wednesday everybody.

Zesty

Download my Free Recipe Book: Simply Zesty