Hummus for snacky nights and a few fun surprises!

Hello bloggie peeps.
I am hoping that you are all enjoying this lovely cool weather we have been given over the past few weeks.

I figure I would start you off with some goodies I have been fooling around with. I have been really snacky lately, I mean really snacky...

I guess it is due to the fact that I have been much busier than I usually am this time of year.
I have really been craving heavy foods. Pizza, dips and chips, Mexican yummies, the works. But I know that to keep my figure and to be able to indulge, I would have to find a happy medium.

The first recipe I am going to give you was a whim, just to see if I could replicate the flavor of pizza. I think I did pretty good!

Pizza Hummus .

1 1/3 c. cooked or 1 can of Chickpeas
1/3 cup tahini
1 lemon, juiced
1/2 jar of Roasted red peppers, in water
2 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
salt and pepper
oregano to taste
basil to taste
Fennel seed to taste
paprika
1 tablespoon San Marzano tomato paste
Blend everything together in a food processor. Serve with vegetable dippers. This would be great on a super thin pizza crust with some fresh veggies like arugula and tomatoes!

Guacamole Hummus

1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1 garlic clove
2 jalapenos, seeded and chopped
1 1/3 c. or 1 can chickpeas, rinsed & drained
1 ripe avocado, roughly chopped
2 smallish Roma tomatoes, seeded
3 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
coarse salt & fresh ground pepper

Combine garlic clove with cilantro leaves and jalapeno in the food processor and process until finely chopped. Add the chickpeas and avocado, continue processing. While the processor is running, slowly pour the water into the mixture. Add lemon juice and continue until smooth. Season with salt & pepper and toss in tomatoes to make a chunky mix.
Serve with homemade baked tortilla chips or my favorite, cucumber slices!!
Feel free to omit the cilantro if you do not like it, or even replace it with parsley!

Sour Cream and Onion Hummus

3 c. cooked chickpeas, 1/2 cup liquid reserved from your cooking water
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
Kosher salt

Put the chickpeas, chickpea liquid, garlic, tahini, lemon juice, dried onion, onion powder, granulated garlic and 1 teaspoon salt in a food processor. Puree until smooth and creamy.
Serve with any chip you like or veggie dippers!! I make my own baked pita chips and serve it with fresh cut veggies.

I really thing you are going to like these recipes! They are Yummines!!!!

So are you ready for some fun news??

My family sold our large colonial house and are currently renovating a little bitty cottage on the north side of town! With only 1 child at home it seemed silly to have a 5 bedroom house. Plus, the heating bill is murder!

It has two bedrooms, dining room, super tiny kitchen, fabulous mudroom and a living room with a cute little bay window. We are thrilled to have found this little diamond in the rough.
In the rough is an accurate description.
It has been vacant for over a year and had been used as a rental since 1996. Last year a tree limb fell through the master bedroom roof!!!!
I know you are probably wondering what the appeal is, right?
1. We have always wanted to live in a cottage home.
2. We love history, this main house was built 1n early 1900, and back portion of the home was built in the 1940's.
3. Chris and I love to renovate and this was way too good to pass up!
4. ARE YOU READY??? We only paid $11,500 for it!!!!!!!
The owners of the home are a lovely older couple my husband and I have known for years. They asked us one day if we would be interested in a possible rental home and asked us of we wanted to look at it.
Chris and I went to take a look and I instantly fell head over heels in love with it. It was filthy and a mess , but the bones of the house were solid and it had possibilities!!! It was everything we always wanted in a cottage, including beautiful hardwood floors!
Three weeks later, we signed the papers and started renovating it three weeks ago!!!
~
Our second fun surprise is..Our local Co-op wanted to buy our house to expand their operation, they made us an offer we couldn't refuse and so we bought a house and sold our house all with in 3 weeks! Crazy right?
So, over the next few weeks we will share with you some fun pictures and stories of our new house adventures!!!
I look forward to share pictures, stories and additional goodies with you!!!!
Hugs,
Viv~