I’m recycling this post for Homemade Hummus for July’s #BlogFilmFood, which is My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Keep reading for a giveaway and other great recipes!
“If you boys squirt me one more time with those guns, I’m going to run them over with the car.”
Three boys stared at me: Sawyer, Lincoln, and Rob. Only Rob spoke. “You’re going to WHAT?”
“Run them over with the car.”
“WHY?”
“It’s what we do.”
“We who?”
“My family,” I said. “It’s TRADITION.”
The tradition began at Nag’s Head when I was 5 or 6 and my cousin Rich was on the verge of 16 and getting his driver’s license. All week long my Dad kept promising two things: that he would take Rich driving and that he would run over our squirt guns with the car if we kept squirting him.
Both seemed like empty threats until my Dad finally asked if Rich wanted to go for a spin down the sand-sprayed, sleepy roads near our cottage. I got invited to ride in the backseat and after Dad talked Rich through the ins and outs of our station wagon, he let Rich actually put the car in gear and begin to back out. And then: CRUNCH. CRUNCH.
Rich stomped on the brakes. “Uncle Rick, what was that?”
“THAT would be the sound of you running over your own squirt guns,” said my Dad.
I’ve never forgotten that moment and have sworn (whether Rob understands it or not) that my children will also fall under the jurisdiction of the crushing-squirt-guns-with-a-car policy.
This may not quite equal the traditions held by the Portokalos family in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but it is a tradition nonetheless. I think all families have their own traditions and histories and even quirky squirt-gun policies, all of which come to a head when you bring two families together in marriage. I was thankful that our wedding proved to be very low drama, but I know that isn’t always the case. And in our marriage we have found lots of little places where Rob and I are surprised by how strongly we identify with something from our past that we didn’t realize we carried with us.
Hummus is the perfect marriage of chick peas, tahini (a paste made from sesame seed), and olive oil. A great source of protein and healthy fats, this is a wonderful snack, especially if you’re pairing it with something like fresh veggies. YUM! And, fitting enough with this idea of tradition and possible conflict, both Greece and areas of the Middle East claim to be the REAL birthplace of hummus. I don’t care where it came from: Hummus is yummus. This recipe is tasty and delicious. And EASY.
Hummus is one of those magical foods. I like it. My kids like it. I remember Sawyer as a toddler, eating hummus with a spoon. If you like dips, it’s a great alternative to something like ranch dressing. It is great on wraps and part of a main dish as well.
If you’ve had a great hummus, you know what I’m talking about. If you’ve had bad hummus, you know that it’s a real shame. Some store-bought brands are fabulous, but homemade is better and cheaper. The most expensive ingredient is the tahini, which is sesame seed paste. The international aisle of a grocery store will have it, but I buy mine at an international food store for half the price than that you’d find at a normal grocery store. If you are in Houston, you’ve got to check out Phoenicia. Such great prices on herbs and other specialty foods!
This hummus recipe comes from our dear friend Kandy, who makes the most amazing food. She and her husband Gary are beasts in the kitchen and this recipe is no exception.
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cans chickpeas, drained (reserve liquid)
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 T tahini
- juice from 1 lemon
- sprinkle of cayenne pepper
- Using food processor, blend until smooth. Use liquid from chick peas to smooth it out and get it to the consistency you'd like. Drizzle the top with olive oil and sprinkle with chili powder and cayenne. Serve with pita or raw veggies.
- Olive oil matters. You will taste the difference with a quality extra virgin olive oil, so this is one time I splurge. Save your best oil for this recipe.
- Raw garlic can be a little potent, so you might consider roasting yours or sauteing it first.
- I also love this with roasted red peppers!
Now enter the giveaway and then check out some other fabulous recipes for #BlogFilmFood!
Other Blog Film Food Recipes for July:
Greek Wedding Cookies from Penney Lane Kitchen
Cake Mix Brownies from Family Fun Journal
Greek Pasta Skillet from The Grant Life
Orange Dreamsicle Cake from Eat Pray Read Love
Buttermilk Strawberry Bundt Cake from The Involuntary Housewife