St. Patrick's Hummus

   St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner, and while its not a huge holiday, it's still a fun one to celebrate! Everything has been turning green for weeks in preparation for this Irish holiday! So, I started racking my brain to figure out what I could make that was healthy, delicious and GREEN!

What I decided to make and share with you guys, is some amazing St. Patrick's Day Hummus! I know, its not a traditional Irish food or even inspired my typical Irish flavors, but it is green and it is delicious! I think St. Patrick would approve and I hope you do too!

    To make this hummus, I started with a standard hummus recipe and began to add my own spin on it! To lighten the recipe up, I took out the massive amounts of olive oil and tahini paste that normal recipes use, and just used a little of the chickpea water (sometimes called aquafaba) for the liquid. To make this hummus the festive color green, I used some baby spinach! Not only does this add amazing color, but also an extra boost of protein! What more is there to love? Oh yeah, it's also Vegan, Gluten Free, fairly Low Fat, and a perfect healthy snack for anytime of the year!

Ingredients:
1 can of Chickpeas
2 TBS minced Garlic or 2 tsp of Garlic Powder
2 tsp Ground Cumin
2 TBS Lemon Juice
1 cup Fresh Spinach ( you could also use Kale, Arugula or any other dark leafy green you want)
(Optional) 1-2 tsp Tahini ( ground sesame seeds)
Salt to taste

Drain your chickpeas, BUT KEEP THE LIQUID. What you don't use in the recipe you can save for a later use. This liquid is called aquafaba and can me used to make vegan frostings, marshmallow fluff, sponge cakes and so much more!
Add everything to a blender or food processor EXPECT THE SPINACH.

Blend until everything is incorporated and fairly smooth. Taste and adjust any flavors if needed. If needed, add in some of the chickpea water to make things blend easier.

 

You could leave it as is and you will still have a delicious hummus, but in the spirit of St. Patty's Day, lets make it green!

 

Add your spinach to the blender and blend until smooth.

 

 

Isn't is pretty? Its so much fun to eat things that are fun colors! Taste the hummus and make sure it is to your liking. You might need to adjust the seasonings a bit to make it perfect!

 

Then, transfer your fresh homemade hummus to a dish or container.

 

 

Chill in the fridge for a few hours before serving.

 

Now you have some beautiful and delicious green hummus that St. Patrick himself would be proud of! This hummus is perfect for a St. Patrick's Day party or for a festive touch to your lunch and dinner!

 

Hummus has become a staple food in our house. We love to eat it with pita chips, carrot sticks, slices of cucumber and bell pepper, and crackers. Its also really yummy spead on toast, used in place of mayo on your sandwiches and veggie burgers, or in wraps to add delicious flavor and extra protein!

 

 

 

I hope you enjoy this recipe for hummus! I am sure you will love it as much as I do! Whether you make it in celeration of St. Patrick's Day, or just for fun, this is a recipe you won't want to miss out on!

 

Please share this recipe and my blog with your friends and family to helpe everyone live a healthier and happier life!

 

You can follow the blog vie email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Tumblr @ justrunningforfood, and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.

 

I post every Friday!

 

Stay Healthy, Happy and Laughing!

 

H. Banana

Thanksgiving Harvest Salad

     Its the season for giving thanks with Thanksgiving just a few days away! I am constantly reminded how much I have to be thankful for, and hopefully I find myself giving thanks all year round, not just on Thanksgiving! But, we celebrate Thanksgiving as a holiday and a time to gather with your friends and family and give thanks for all the blessings we have!

     Unfortunately, Thanksgiving is also a time when people over eat (by a long shot) and the food( and there is a lot of it) is generally not very healthy. Sure, there might be vegetable sides and dishes, but they are usually covered in butter or bacon! Speaking of butter, just about every Thanksgiving dish contains it! Sure, its a holiday, but why would you want to spoil a holiday by eating food that isn't going to make you feel good?

     This festive Harvest Salad is the perfect dish to add to your Thanksgiving table! It is full of all the familiar flavors that we all love during the fall, and lots of healthy ingredients as well! The butternut squash and cranberries have such contrasting colors, and makes this dish not only delicious, but beautiful as well!
You might have already guessed this, but this Harvest Salad is completely oil free, butter free, and bacon free! Also, it is perfect for vegans and vegetarians, as well as everyone else who wants to eat something amazing on Thanksgiving! Also, you can eat as much as you want of it, and still feel great afterwards!

Ingredients:
3 cups cubed and peeled Butternut Squash
1/2 cup Maple Syrup
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 tsp All Spice
1/4 tsp Thyme
1/4 tsp Dried Orange Zest
1/2 tsp Ground Ginger
1/4 tsp Ground Rosemary
1 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
2 TBS Water
2 cups Cooked Wild Rice( cooked with a cinnamon stick (optional)
1/2 large Red Onion- Finely chopped
3 cups Kale or Spinach-roughly chopped
3-4 TBS Orange Juice
1/3-1/2 cup Dried Cranberries
Enough Pecans to garnish--roughly chopped

I know, it looks like a lot of ingredients, but it's worth it! If you feel like there are too much spices, simply tone it down a bit! It will be delicious either way!

First, lets peel and chop the butternut squash. I am using a variety of squash that, I believe, is crossed with a pumpkin. For that reason, its a bit smaller than a regular butternut squash.

Pretty cute right? Another plus about this variety, is it is much easier to cut!

Peel and cube your squash. Then mix the maple syrup, seasonings( nutmeg, all spice, thyme, orange zest, ginger, rosemary, pepper, salt) and water together and pour over your cubed squash. Mix well to coat the cubes.

Preheat your  oven to 350 F. Pour your squash onto a baking sheet lined with non-stick paper or a mat. Make sure that they make only one layer so they can cook evenly.

Looks like a heart, right? :) Bake your squash for 40 min, stirring after about 20 min. They will smell so wonderful and festive!

 

Doesn't look super great right now, but stick to it! Taste a cube to get a delicious little snack! Allow the squash to cool on the pan before putting it in a bowl and setting aside.

Next, cook your rice. I used a rice cooker for mine. When cooking your rice, I suggest adding a cinnamon stick, or half of one, to the pot or cooker. You don't have to, but it does add extra flavor!

Next, chop the onion and add it to a pan. I don't use any oil here. The trick to cooking with out oil is to keep the ingredients moving. Cook the onions until they become soft.

Next, add in the kale or spinach. I did give mine a rough chop, but you don't have to. Also, add in the orange juice. Simply cook the kale until it becomes wilted.

Feel free to add a bit more salt and pepper if you feel the dish needs it. Now, add the squash to the pan and mix gently. The squash is very soft, and you don't want to mash it. Cook this until everything is nice and hot.

I think I would be happy with this alone, but there is still more goodness to add, so lets keep going! Once the mix is hot, add it to a bowl along with the rice and cranberries. Gently mix until everything is combined.

Then, transfer it to your serving dish and top with the pecans. Add as many or as few as you want!

 

And there you have it! A beautiful, festive, delicious, and super healthy, Harvest Salad! Perfect for Thanksgiving and just about every other day!

 

This dish has so many things going on in it! The spicy/sweetness of the butternut squash and the savory-ness from the onions and kale go hand and hand with each other. And the cranberries and pecans really give it that festive feel! The wild rice not only adds flavor, but amazing color too! 

 

 

I really hope you give this recipe a try! I just know you will love it just as much as my family and I did! We aren't going to be home for Thanksgiving, but if we were, I would totally fix this dish!

 

If you are looking for a healthier dish for your Thanksgiving feast, then this is a must have recipe! Its festive, delicious, oil free, and perfect for everyone, including Vegans and Vegetarians!

 

Please share this post and my blog with your family and friends! Spread the love of a healthy lifestyle, and help to encourage others to become healthier!

 

You can follow the blog via Email, Google, Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, and on Tumblr @ justrunningforfood. Please come and follow me to stay up to date on the blog!

 

New Post Every Friday!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Keep Healthy and Safe!

H. Banana