Alterna-hummus

This is a recipe that Lindsey sent me a while ago and I am only now getting around to posting it. Believe it or not, it's a recipe for hummus that doesn't use tahini. For the record, i LOVE tahini. It's just that it's quite fattening and high in calories (as any nut- or seed-paste should be), and sometimes you just want some other way to make this delicious chickpea dip that we all love without the calories we can ill afford. Plus, tahini can't be found in all grocery stores in the U.S. (sad truth), so we need a substitute sometimes.

The substitute? Yogurt! Plain, fat-free (if you so choose) yogurt.

Here's the recipe, with some alterations:

1 can of chick peas
1/3 cup plain yogurt
juice of half a lemon (go crazy and add some zest, if you want)
2 cloves of garlic
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 tablespoon water
1/2 tsp ground cumin
generous helping of black pepper

Blend and serve! Also fantastic if you put some roasted red peppers in there, as i have in mine. You can find roasted red peppers by the jar in your grocery store, with the pickles and olives.

Thanks Lindsey!! :)

Masoor Lentils

I'm excited to post a recipe here with actual nice pictures of the food. Thanks to Charlie, my new camera, that is sure to be a more common thing from now on. Hurray for Sunny-side Up, finally some decent photos!

So, this dish is one that my dear roommate taught me how to make a while ago, and it is really one of my absolute favorites. It's pretty intense, but if you like lentils or looking for a way to eat healthier but still get to stuff your face, this would be the dish for you. If you follow this recipe, the whole thing (it's one serving) is 200 calories. And it's vegetarian. :O

1/2 cup of masoor lentils, whole (found in Indian grocery stores)
1/2 of an onion
1 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 bay leaf
1 tsp (or more...) black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
a few cloves of garlic
1 tsp ginger
1 tbsp coriander
1 tbsp mustard seeds
1 tsp (or more...) red pepper powder or flakes
1 tsp ground cumin
chopped parsley (optional)
plus whatever veggies you want. me, i chose chopped broccoli and green peppers.

1. soak lentils for at least an hour in warm water.
2. put lentils in a pot and fill with 4-5 cups water. add cloves, turmeric, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. bring to boil.
3. chop onions and sautee them over medium heat until translucent. add garlic, ginger, and whatever other veggies you want.
4. turn off heat and add coriander, mustard seeds, red pepper, and cumin. Prepare to cough.5. once the lentils have cooked (15-20 minutes) and are at a soft consistency, add the sauteed onions and spices to the pot of lentils.
6. mix and simmer on low for a couple minutes. this is a good time to toast some pita to eat with it.
7. at the last minute, mix in some chopped parsley. plate and serve!

Enjoy the ridiculous amount of nutritional wow.