Hummus-Healthy and Creamy

Creamy Healthy Hummus

One of our favorite family snacks is hummus. We love all flavors and most brands, but our very favorite hummus is this  homemade recipe for healthy creamy hummus. We love to cut up all kinds of vegetables and put out a big bowl of hummus, some pita chips or pita bread and sit down as a family and watch out favorite sports team-the San Francisco Giants!

 
1 (15 oz) can garbanzo beans
½ cup red onion chopped
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp ground pepper
¾ tsp salt
½ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
¼ cup olive oil
⅓ cup tahini
2 tsp fresh roasted garlic (3 cloves)
garbanzo liquid to thin
 

Drain garbanzo beans reserving liquid. Roast garlic cloves in toaster oven or quickly stir fry over medium heat in a tiny bit of olive oil and cool. Once garlic is cooled, add all ingredients to food processor or blender (Vitamix). Pulse or blend until all ingredients are blended, adding reserve liquid as necessary to produce smooth and creamy hummus. It does thicken up as it cools. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour. Serve with cut up veggies or pita chips. Use as a condiment in pita sandwiches or mediterranean wraps. Makes 4 cups. Keeps 4-5 days.

Snack food on the coffee table during sporting events is an American tradition. Over the years, I have tried to develop a habit of providing healthy options for our family so that we could carry on that tradition without compromising our healthy eating habits. Creamy hummus is a “must have” at all our family gatherings. It is fun to have a sports team that your entire family rallies around. My husband and I have been Giants fans our entire lives since both of us grew up on the Peninsula. We remember the Candlestick Park games when you would have to wear arctic tundra gear to the games in case the wind off the bay started swirling and the temperature dropped 10-15 ˚. It has been wonderful these past few seasons to have our team do so well and win 2 world series. A few years ago my husband gave me the greatest Mother’s day gift ever-an MLB subscription. Since I travel down to southern California so often to help with the grandkids I can now watch all the games on my iPad. Go Giants!

What fun family traditions have you established around sporting events? What teams do you root for together? Do you have favorite “must have” snacks that you serve when you gather as a family to cheer on your teams?