In the kitchen (and, yes, usually barefoot)

One of the things I love doing -when the kids given me time- is cooking. I love trying new recipes, and love getting new cook books. I have a special fondness for homemade breads and "odd" recipes that you don't typically find in family-style cookbooks. I don't like recipes that call for "cream of ___" soups, or lots of cheese or meat. I'm not afraid to experiment and try new foods. George sometimes turns his nose up at my experiments, but most of them have turned out very yummy!

Here are some I've tried recently and enjoyed, as well as a few tried-and-true recipes.

Pita Pockets with Hummus and Salad (tastes better than it sounds! this one was a pleasant surprise)

14 oz. canned chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and liquid set aside
1 garlic clove, chopped
3 tbs olive oil
2 tbs sesame seed paste (tahini)
juice of 1/2 lemon
pinch of paprika

2-3 pita breads

tsp vinegar (I used balsamic)
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
1/4 iceberg lettuce, finely shredded
1 scallion (green onion), chopped
1/2 yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2-inch piece cucumber, chopped
1 carrot, peeled and grated
pepper

To make hummus, put chickepeas, garlic, 2 tbs oil, sesame seed paste, lemon juice, and a little of the chickpea liquid in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Season to taste with pepper and paprika.

Heat pita breads according to package directions, and split each one to create a pocket.

To make dressing, whisk the remaining oil with the vinegar and mustard, and pepper to taste, in a small bowl.

Mix the remaining ingredients together in a bowl, add the dressing, and toss well to coat. Smear the inside of the pita pockets with the hummus, fill with the salad, and serve.


Chocolate Pancakes (our breakfast this morning. I made a double batch and the kids are still eating them! The rest will go into the freezer to be popped into the toaster for a quick breakfast treat)

1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1-1/2 cup buttermilk
3 tbs vegetable oil
1-2/3 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup cocoa powder

In a medium bowl, combine sugar, eggs, buttermilk, and oil. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. Add milk mixture to flour mixture. Stir until just combined.

Heat a lightly greased griddle or nonstick skillet over medium heat. For each pancake, pour about 1/4 cup batter onto griddle.

Cook until small bubbles form on top, about 1 to 2 minutes per side.

Great with strawberries and whipped topping!

Hummus Pizza (why, yes, I do love hummus!)

Pizza Crust (your own recipe, store bought, or you could also use pita bread)
Hummus (homemade or store bought. Hummus with roasted red peppers in it is especially yummy with this!)
8 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1 large head of broccoli, chopped into flowrettes
1 large red bell pepper, seeds removed, chopped or sliced into rings

Top pizza crust (or pita bread) with hummus. You can go light or heavy, it's up to you. Top with shredded cheese, broccoli, and bell pepper slices.

Bake in 425*F oven for 15-20 minutes.


Pizza Crust

2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour


In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast and brown sugar in the water, and let sit for 10 minutes.
Stir the salt and oil into the yeast solution. Mix in 2 1/2 cups of the flour.

Turn dough out onto a clean, well floured surface, and knead in more flour until the dough is no longer sticky. Place the dough into a well oiled bowl, and cover with a cloth. Let the dough rise until double; this should take about 1 hour. Punch down the dough, and form a tight ball. Allow the dough to relax for a minute before rolling out.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). If you are baking the dough on a pizza stone, you may place your toppings on the dough, and bake immediately. If you are baking your pizza in a pan, lightly oil the pan, and let the dough rise for 15 or 20 minutes before topping and baking it.

Bake pizza in preheated oven, until the cheese and crust are golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes.

I use this recipe to make bread sticks and fococcia bread. To make breadsticks, roll the dough out into a rectangle and cut into sticks, and bake until golden brown (about 15 minutes). To make foccocia bread, roll the dough into a circle, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt. Bake until golden brown, and brush with more oil and sprinke with more salt. Let cool, then eat! Yummers.

Black Bean and Salsa Soup (quick, easy, yummy, and healthy!)

2 cans no-salt added black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup salsa (any kind! I like using garlic and lime deli-style salsa)
1-1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 tsp. lime juice
1 tsp. ground cummin

Combine all ingredients in a food processor, and process until just slightly chunky (or leave out one can of black beans and half of the salsa until after the soup has been pureed, if you like a chunkier soup). Pour pureed soup into a sauce pan and heat over medium-high heat.

Serve with quesadillas for dipping. Very filling.