Spicy Homemade Hummus

First let me start by saying that I love hummus. I used think it was weird and then one day I tried it and WOWZA! However, I am very cheap when it comes to buying my food. For the most part I buy good, clean, healthy food but my store of choice is Kroger and occasionally Publix depending on their deals. One day I hope to have enough money to shop at Whole Foods on the reg but until that day I will continue with my bargain shopping. Now with that being said, hummus is relatively pricey to me especially considering a little tub won't even last me a week. I did a little googling and decided that I will just make my own hummus since I can get chick peas for something like 3 for $2 at Kroger. So here is what I have just thrown together. I will add that I don't use exact measurements in my cooking. Once I learn how to make something, I basically just add until it is satisfactory.

Ingredients:
1 16oz can of chickpeas
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp ground pepper
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 TBSP Red Pepper Seasoning
1 TBSP chili powder 
1 lemon squeezed
1/4 cup water or juice from chickpeas
1 TBSP of All-Natural Peanut Butter or tahini 
Tabasco sauce (roughly 10 to 12 shakes to your liking)

Note: You can substitute the garlic powder, red pepper seasoning, and chili powder for the real thing, I just didn't have any on hand, plus this is quicker. Also if you have tahini great, I never buy it and I've found that Peanut Butter does just as great and you can't really taste it.

Directions:

First, drain the chick peas. You can either keep the juice or dump it and substitute water later. Add them into a food processor. Add your juice or water. Depending on the size of your food processor, you can add the rest of the ingredients now or wait and just hand stir them in. I had a small food processor available so I did it in 2 parts. Blend the chick peas until they are in a paste-y  consistency. Now add the seasonings, saving the peanut butter and Tabasco for last. I like to save them so the seasonings are well-blended first. Add the peanut butter or tahini, make sure you mix it in well, you don't want to find a chunk folded up somewhere. Lastly add as much Tabasco as you would like, making sure to stir it and check half-way through to make sure it isn't too spicy for you!

Obviously I chose to make a spicy hummus, but you can make whatever variety you want. Just make sure to keep the core ingredients: chick peas, lemon juice, PB/tahini, sea salt, and ground pepper.

I hope you enjoy and thanks for checking out my blog! Please let me know how you make your hummus and if I should try anything different!

Love you food, love your body, love your life!

Healthy Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Hello hello,

I know it has been awhile, but I really wanted to share this recipe that I found and revised for a healthier, happier belly. I have been making lots of banana breads in the past couple months trying to figure out which one I like the best, while eliminating the bad for you ingredients. This is what I have stumbled upon. First off, I used Rachel Ray's Chocolate Chip Banana Bread recipe as a guideline. If you make her version with no revisions, it is delicious as well!

Here is what you are going to need to make my banana bread.

1/2 to 3/4 cup of all-natural applesauce [until desired consistency]
1 cup of flour
1/2 cup of oats
1 scoop Perfect Fit Protein [any rice protein]
1/2 cup of Stevia [OR 1/4 cup Stevia & 2 TBSP organic honey]
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
2 eggs, lightly beaten [OR 1/3 cup egg whites]
3 bananas, mashed (1 cup of mashed bananas)
1 cup of dark chocolate chips

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit.

Grease a 8 1/2-inch x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan (or use baking spray)

In a large bowl whisk flour, oats, protein powder, Stevia, baking soda, and salt together. Mix in the applesauce, bananas, and eggs. Stir in the chocolate chips (do not overmix) and pour into the prepared pan. Bake for about 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the loaf for 10 to 15 minutes, then flip it out of the pan, and cool completely, right side up! Viola!

Please note that I did use flour and chocolate chips which obviously are not "healthy" choices but dark chocolate is good for you in moderation and you are welcome to use any oat flour or flour substitute if you desire. Also I am not an "exact-ingredient-chef" I just use guidelines and then go as I please. I hope you enjoy and share this recipe.

Thank you for reading and I hope to have more over the holidays!

Love your food, love your body, love your life!