HUMMUS RECIPES

Hummus is easy to make and is great with all kinds of crackers and pita chips. Make some today or pack it in your lunch tomorrow!

Sour Cream and Onion Hummus

Makes about 4 cups

3 cups canned chickpeas, drained & rinsed, reserve 1/2 cup liquid

2 to 3 cloves garlic

1/4 cup tahini

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1-1/2 teaspoons dried minced onion

1-1/2 teaspoons onion powder

1-1/2 teaspoons granulated garlic (can substitute with 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder, you will just loose texture)

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

Put chickpeas, chickpea liquid, garlic, tahini, lemon juice, dried onion, onion powder, granulated garlic and salt in a food processor. Puree until smooth and creamy.

Buffalo Wing Hummus

Makes about 4 cups

3 cups canned chickpeas, drained & rinsed, 1/2 cup liquid reserved

2 to 3 cloves garlic

1/4 cup tahini

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1-1/2 teaspoons paprika

2 Tablespoons Frank's Buffalo Wing Sauce*

2 to 3 Tablespoons cayenne hot sauce

1 Tablespoon distilled white vinegar

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

Put chickpeas, chickpea liquid, garlic, tahini, lemon juice, paprika, Buffalo sauce, hot sauce, vinegar and salt in a food processor. Puree until smooth and creamy.

*The original recipe called for 2 Tablespoons barbecue sauce. I just couldn't imagine how this would have the Buffalo Wing taste using that. So, I used Frank's Buffalo Wing Sauce...it's in the condiment aisle. It tasted fantastic.

Pizza Hummus

Makes about 4 cups

1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 cup tomato paste

2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves

1 teaspoon dried basil

2 to 3 cloves garlic

3 cups canned chickpeas, drained & rinsed, 1/2 cup liquid reserved

1/4 cup tahini

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

Heat the olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the tomato paste, oregano and basil, cooking until slightly toasted, about 2 minutes.  Transfer the tomato paste mixture to a food processor.  Add the garlic, chickpeas, chickpea liquid, tahini, lemon juice and salt.  Puree until smooth and creamy.

Roadside Diner Cheeseburger Quiche

Adapted from Taste of Home- added a few tweaks to my taste, you can do the same!

This is a great make ahead meal. Fix it the day before and cover with plastic wrap then take out while the oven is preheating.

Change it up with different cheeses. I also like pepper jack and an extra sharp cheddar cheese.

1 refrigerated pie crust (or make your own or use a frozen deep-dish pie shell)

1  lb. ground beef

2 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped or 1/4 cup of salsa

1 medium onion, chopped

1/2 cup dill pickle relish

1/2 cup crumbled cooked bacon

5 eggs

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup milk

2 teaspoons prepared mustard

1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce such as Cholula

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1-1/2 cups (6 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese, any kind

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Optional garnishes: Additional pickle relish, crumbled cooked bacon, chopped onion and tomato, mayonnaise and shredded lettuce

In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain.  Stir in the tomatoes, onion, relish and bacon.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, cream, milk, mustard, pepper sauce, salt and pepper.  Set aside.

Unroll pie crust into a 9" deep-dish pie plate (make sure it's deep dish, otherwise, the mixture will not fit) and flute the edges.  To make refrigerated pie crust fit into a deep-dish plate, roll it out a little bit more with a rolling pin.  You can make your own pie crust or purchase frozen deep dish pie crusts; just make sure it's completely thawed out.  Transfer meat mixture into prepared crust.  Pour egg mixture over the meat and use a fork to move the meat around, letting the egg mixture settle in between.  Sprinkle with cheeses.

Bake at 375 degrees for 45-60 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. If necessary, cover edges with foil during the last 15 minutes to prevent over browning.  Let stand for 15 minutes before cutting.

BUTTON SNOWFLAKES

Here is an easy way to use up all those small white single buttons. This particular one is glued on a piece of interfacing or you could use a thin cotton batting or felt for a thicker look. The silver tray is a wonderful background for the snowflake. Make a round template for the inside of the tray with paper first then cut out of batting, felt or interfacing. The easiest thing is to free hand a star by starting with one line down the center and start to glue buttons down with a glue gun. Save a pretty large one for the middle. Using the diagram as a guide, continue making your snowflake.  Just set it back into the tray with a spray on adhesive or  you could put in a frame or make into a pillow.  If making into a pillow, you would not be able to wash in the machine, it would have to be hand washed or toss in the dryer a few minutes to freshen up.

Button snowflake ornaments or window decorations

Using narrow popsicle sticks, glue into a star shape with a hot glue gun. Then glue white buttons to fit the sticks. Add a string to hang and put in your windows or doors.

Another method is to use a thicker wire, make the snowflake and then hot glue the buttons on both sides to make it a reversible ornament or window decoration. Look at the photo to use a guide for placing the buttons.

Quotes

"I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter.  Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show."  ~Andrew Wyeth

"There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you.... In spring, summer and fall people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself." ~ Ruth Stout

"Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius." ~ Pietro Aretino

"The tendinous part of the mind, so to speak, is more developed in winter; the fleshy, in summer.  I should say winter had given the bone and sinew to literature, summer the tissues and the blood. " 

~John Burroughs

"Winter is the time of promise because there is so little to do - or because you can now and then permit yourself the luxury of thinking so."

~Stanley Crawford

"I like these cold, gray winter days.  Days like these let you savor a bad mood." ~Bill Watterson

"Every mile is two in winter." ~ George Herbert

"Hear! hear!" screamed the jay from a neighboring tree, where I had heard a tittering for some time, "winter has a concentrated and nutty kernel, if you know where to look for it."  ~Henry David Thoreau, 28 November 1858 journal entry

"When the bold branches

Bid farewell to rainbow leaves -

Welcome wool sweaters."

~B. Cybrill

"Every winter,

When the great sun has turned his face away,

The earth goes down into a vale of grief,

And fasts, and weeps, and shrouds herself in sables,

Leaving her wedding-garlands to decay -

Then leaps in spring to his returning kisses."

~Charles Kingsley

 Excellent Carrot Soups

CARROT SOUP

This recipe won Best soup challenge in Vermont in 2011

I can see why it has a wonderful curry and velvety flavor and the banana is a nice surprise that is just a hint of tropical.

Serves 4

    1 Tbs. canola oil

    1 medium yellow onion, diced (1 cup)

    1 tsp. plus 1 pinch salt

    2 Tbs. minced fresh ginger

    1 Tbs. curry powder

    1 pinch cayenne pepper

    4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch rounds (4 cups)

    1 ripe banana, peeled and sliced

    1 13.5-oz. can light coconut milk, divided

    2 1/2 Tbs. lime juice

Directions

1. Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and pinch of salt, and sauté 5 minutes, or until onion is soft. Stir in ginger, and cook 1 to 2 minutes, or until fragrant. Add curry powder, cayenne, and 1/4 cup water. Cook 1 to 2 minutes, stirring to coat onion and ginger with curry mixture.

2. Add carrots, banana, 1 tsp. salt, and 4 cups water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, uncovered, 25 minutes, or until carrots are soft enough to be pierced with fork.

3. Purée soup in batches in blender or food processor. Return soup to pot, and stir in 1 cup coconut milk and lime juice.

4. Simmer remaining 3/4 cup coconut milk in small saucepan over medium-high heat 10 minutes, or until reduced by half.

5. Ladle soup in bowls, and swirl 11/2 Tbs. coconut milk reduction into each serving.

CARROT GINGER SOUP

This soup is thick and hearty thanks to a secret ingredient -- cashew cream. The carrot and ginger flavors are both prominent. The Italian parsley is the perfect compliment to the soup both in color and flavor. So very tasty!

Don’t be intimidated by the list of ingredients. This soup can be made in less than 15 minutes.

Ingredients

    2 cups baby carrots, chopped

    1/4 yellow onion, peeled, chopped

    4 cloves of garlic, chopped

    2 tablespoons olive oil

    1/2 teaspoon sea salt

    pinch of white pepper

    1 tablespoon fresh ginger

    1/3 cup cashew cream** see below

    2 cups vegetable broth

    1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley (optional)

Instructions

    heat oil in small pan

    cook onion and garlic and then carrots in the pan until carrots are fork tender and onions are clear

    place the cooked vegetables and the rest of the ingredients in a blender (I used a vita-mix).

    blend on high for a few minutes until steam comes out if using vita-mix, else blend until smooth and then return to pan to heat.

    garnish with chopped Italian parsley after serving

Makes about four cups.

CASHEW CREAM

Cashew cream is an amazing thing. It is thick and flavorful and can be used in so many recipes. No cholesterol and less fat with a rich flavor.

This recipe takes a bit of time since you need to soak the nuts overnight. Don’t try to rush things by boiling the nuts as some do. It will reduce the natural sweetness.

Ingredients

    2 cups raw whole cashews (You can buy in bulk from health food stores or online sources, contact [email protected] for more information)

Instructions

    rinse the cashews

    put the cashews in a container and cover with water.

    place the covered container into the fridge overnight

    drain and rinse the cashews

    place in blender and cover with cold water

    blend on high until smooth with a blender or food processor or vita mix machine. If it is chunky you can strain and use the creamy part only.

Use as regular cream. To make it even thicker, reduce it on the stove. To thin it out, add some water.

Makes about 2 cups.

WD 40 USES

I was looking for some uses for WD 40 and was amazed at all it can do! Keep some at home for all of the uses below, it is so inexpensive and works wonders.

 1. Protects silver from tarnishing.

2. Removes road tar and grime from cars.

3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.

4. Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery.

5. Keeps flies off cows. (really?)

6. Restores and cleans chalkboards.

7. Removes lipstick stains.

8. Loosens stubborn zippers.

9. Untangles jewelry chains.

10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.

11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.

12. Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.

13. Removes tomato stains from clothing.

14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.

15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.

16. Keeps scissors working smoothly.

17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.

18. It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor!

Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off. Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.

19. Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly! Use WD-40!

20. Gives a children's playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.

21. Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers...

22. Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.

23. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open..

24. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.

25. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.

26. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.

27. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans

28. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.

29. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.

30. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.

31. Removes splattered grease on stove.

32. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.

33. Lubricates prosthetic limbs.

34. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).

35. Removes all traces of duct tape.

36. Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.

37. Florida 's favorite use is: cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.'

38. The favorite use in the state of New York, WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.

39. WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a little on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.

 

40. Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.

41. WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.

42. Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash. Presto! The lipstick is gone!

43. If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start.

The basic ingredient in WD 40 is fish oil.

Rishi Tea

Rishi Tea was founded on the commitment to set the standard for quality and expand the awareness of tea and its rich, inspirational tradition. We offer superb loose-leaf tea imported directly from tea gardens across Asia, made according to ancient artisanal practices using organic cultivation techniques and Fair Trade standards. From our modest beginnings over ten years ago to becoming an established leader in the specialty tea market, our mission has never wavered.

Rishi Tea began in 1997 when Joshua Kaiser, founder and tea buyer, recognized that the traditional handcrafted teas he grew so fond of during his travels in Asia were rarely available elsewhere. Joshua felt that North American consumers would embrace artisan tea as they did single origin coffee and fine varietal wine if they were given access to it at reasonable prices. He believed the same gourmet consumer who was willing to learn the difference between a Costa Rican coffee and an Indonesian coffee, as well as develop a refined palate for wine, was also ready to appreciate the natural complexity and flavors of premium tea.

This tea is one of Oprah's favorite things. I particularly like the Chai blend tea, which is $10 per tin. There are many kinds of tea available:

    

    African Rooibos

      Ancient Tree Tea

      Black Tea

      Caffeine-Free Botanical Blends

      Chai

      Fair Trade Tea and Botanicals

      Green Tea

      Iced Tea

      Oolong Tea

      Organic Tea and Botanicals

      Pu-erh Tea

      Tea Powders

      White Tea

      Yerba Maté

Their newest flavors are Mango, Ginseng Oolong, Himalayan Black Tea, Silver Needle Premium, White Peony

You can order online at rishi-tea.com or amazon.com

What do you think about the 2012 hoopla? Where do they get these numbers from?

Toward 2012: Perspectives on the Next Age by Daniel Pinchbeck and Ken Jordan is the book to read that will fill you in.

This a very informative book that offers different perspectives.

An informed, challenging, and engaging collection of essays on the new choices in lifestyles and community as the 2012 year begins.

This fresh and thought-provoking anthology draws together some of today's most celebrated visionaries, thinkers, and pioneers in the field of evolving consciousness- exploring topics from shamanism to urban homesteading, the legacy of Carlos Castaneda to Mayan predictions for the year 2012, and new paths in direct political action and human sexuality.

Toward 2012 highlights some of the most challenging, intelligent pieces published on the acclaimed website Reality Sandwich. It is coedited by Daniel Pinchbeck, the preeminent voice on 2012, and online pioneer Ken Jordan, and features original works from Stanislav Grof, John Major Jenkins, and Paul D. Miller (DJ Spooky); interviews with Abbie Hoffman and artist Alex Grey; and a new introduction by Pinchbeck.

Here are ideas that trace the arc of our evolution in consciousness, lifestyles, and communities as we draw closer to a moment in time that portends ways of living that are different from anything we have expected or experienced. I guess we will know for sure if this is the year as time goes on.

Ideas for Small Living Rooms

A small living room is always hard to figure out how to arrange and to make it larger. Trying these tips will help you manage the space better.

   Reshape the Box

 Turn the conversational group on the diagonal to liven up a boxy room. The fourth side of this group is a cushioned bench, which consumes little visual space.

    Always include a tall element in the room, such as the ficus tree in the corner, to raise the eye toward the ceiling.

Keep Colors Light and Soft

    Pastel furnishings, white walls, and a light neutral area rug make this living room feel lighter and brighter and therefore larger. The wing chairs offer standard-size seating, but with their exposed legs, they consume less visual space than a club chair would.

    The coffee table, although large and dark, is a space-savvy choice because it is within reach of all of the seating pieces. The dark color grounds the pastels and gives the soft colors needed emphasis.

Emphasize the Vertical

    A room's space always includes more than just its horizontal dimensions. Invite the eye to move above and below eye level.

    In this living room, emphasis on the vertical comes by way of floor-to-ceiling draperies that hang just below the ceiling beams. A tall floor lamp, a mantel-high topiary, and a mantel display that stretches up to the ceiling all draw the eye upward.

    Chocolate Chunk Mocha Cookies

This is a nice chocolate cookie with a chocolate frosting. You can choose to frost or not. But the more chocolate the better.

Makes 3 dozen

    2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

    2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

    1 teaspoon baking soda

    1/4 teaspoon salt

    1 cup butter, softened

    3/4 cup granulated sugar

    2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

    1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    2 large eggs

    1 (11.5-oz.) package semisweet chocolate chunks  (use the best chocolate you can find or order online)

    Mocha Frosting- see recipe below

    Powdered sugar (optional)

    1. Combine flour and next 3 ingredients in a bowl.

    2. Beat butter and next 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Gradually add flour mixture, beating at low speed until blended. Stir in chocolate chunks.

    3. Drop dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets.

    4. Bake at 350° for 10 to 12 minutes or until puffy. Cool on baking sheets 2 minutes; remove to wire racks, and let cool 30 minutes or until completely cool. Spread cookies with Mocha Frosting. Dust evenly with powdered sugar, if desired.

    Note: Dough may be frozen up to 1 month or refrigerator.

Mocha Frosting Recipe

Ingredients:

    1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

    1/3 cup strong, hot, brewed coffee (optional)

    3 cups confectioners' sugar

    1/3 cup melted butter

    1/8 teaspoon salt

    1 teaspoon vanilla extract

   

Directions

    Combine coffee and cocoa in small bowl of electric mixer. Beat until blended. Add sugar, butter, salt, and vanilla. Beat until blended. Scrape bowl, and beat icing until it has a spreading consistency. This should be more than enough for your cookies.

 

SALTED CARAMEL PECAN BARS

These are tasty cookies with a caramel flavor, easy to make and the recipe makes a good size batch.

Ingredients

    1 cup chopped pecans

    12 whole graham crackers

    1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

    3/4 cup butter

    2 tablespoons whipping cream

    1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Preparation

    1. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 10 to 12 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through.

    2. Line a 15- x 10-inch jelly-roll pan with aluminum foil; lightly grease foil. Arrange graham crackers in a single layer in prepared pan, slightly overlapping edges.

    3. Combine sugar, butter, and cream in a medium-size heavy saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla and pecans. Pour butter mixture over crackers, spreading to coat.

    4. Bake at 350° for 10 to 11 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly.

    5. Immediately sprinkle with salt, and slide foil from pan onto a wire rack. Cool completely (about 30 minutes). Break into bars.

    

Try This Twist:

Chocolate-Pecan-Caramel Bars: Prepare recipe as directed through Step 4. Top warm bars with 1 cup dark chocolate morsels or milk chocolate. Let stand 3 minutes, and spread chocolate over bars. Proceed with recipe as directed in Step 5. Chill 20 minutes before serving.