I Can Finally Eat Basil. Life is Good.

Look at those lovely, waxy leaves. They smell and taste as good as they look!

I have been waiting patiently for weeks and weeks to eat the fresh basil I planted in my garden. The crazy-deliciousness of fresh basil is just beyond compare. I've been regularly sniffing the leaves (I admit, I am a chronic leaf sniffer), my mouth watering, just hankerin' for the time I could snip off a few and put them on something - anything - edible, to throw it's flavor profile right out of the ballpark. Normally, my thoughts might hint toward spaghetti or whatever is saucy and of the Italian variety. But it's already blistering hot here in North Texas, so I'm trying to use the oven as little as possible.

Instead, I found some gorgeous tomatoes at Aldi, for super cheap. Big flavorful fatties in a four-pack, for a buck and some change. So, I sliced them up, spritzed them with a generous helping of balsamic vinegar, put a fresh basil leaf on each one, then topped them with a slice of cucumber and some black pepper. They were AMAZING! Light and full of the fresh flavors of summer. I am planning to serve these at every dinner party I throw from now until the end of time. Give it a try!

P.S. If you're not already growing your own basil, it's not too late!
Here's a great website with all the info you need to get growing.
http://www.growing-basil.org/

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Hep Halloween Hummus

What makes this hummus special for Halloween, you ask? There's a rubber finger in the bottom of the bowl! Mwa-hah-hahhhhh!!!

Can you tell we are big fans of Halloween at my house? Uhhh, yeah. That's an understatement. We *lurve* Halloween super hard! It's always been my favorite holiday, and I think that's partially because it comes at the advent of my favorite season, autumn. I just love everything about autumn! The colors, the pumpkin pastries, the smells, the lowering temperatures after another ass-hot Texas summer. It's great! Behold my current fireplace mantel decorations, a shrine to all things autumn.

Make this hummus for your next Halloween party, and don't forget the rubber finger!

2 cups cooked garbanzo beans
1/4 cup tahini paste
1 clove garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/8 cup fresh Italian parsley leaves, minced
1/8 cup fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon soy sauce or liquid aminos
Dash of cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper, to taste

• Throw everything into a food processor and whirl until smooth and creamy. 
• Enjoy!

P.S. For an even cheaper version of classic hummus, click HERE.

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Cheap-O Hummus

Let's start this blog with a basic staple of every healthy kitchen. Hummus! It's full of fiber and nutrients, and it's just so dang good I eat it almost every day. This is my own, very basic recipe. I know that tahini paste can be expensive, so if you can't swing the price, or just can't find it, you can substitute a few shakes of sesame oil instead.

2 15-ounce cans garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed (reserve juice from one can)

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 tablespoons lemon juice

4 garlic cloves, minced

4 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce (use gluten-free, if preferred)

2 tablespoons tahini paste (or a few shakes of sesame oil)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon cumin

• Place all ingredients into a blender (for smoother hummus) or a food processor (for chunkier hummus). 
• Add reserved bean juice a couple of tablespoons at a time, until desired consistency is reached. I use almost the entire can of juice in my hummus.  I like it really creamy!
• When you get ready to serve, sprinkle with a dash of paprika, and spritz a little lime juice on top. Green onions on top are nice too!
• We like dipping carrot sticks (cheapest organic veggie on the market right now) and baked tortilla chips into it. I also like to spread some on a whole wheat tortilla with a bit of salsa and green onion, and grill it up like a quesadilla.
• Makes about 8 servings.
• Enjoy!