Hello world!

Welcome to my new blog! With the encouragement of some of my amazing friends and fiancé, I have decided to join the blogging world to share the hit's and misses of our new nutritional ventures! [I hope this lasts longer than my last online project: "365 Days of My Vida Loca" on Flickr]! With my fiancé, Geoff, being on recent Cancer remission (woot, woot) I have become absolutely fascinated my the nutritional value of everything we consume! We've done countless hours of research & taken cooking classes and are now aware of the purpose of so many foods. I've always considered eating my favorite hobby! However, at this time, I am interested in how to make food from scratch that is still delicious and filling, yet serves a healthy purpose! I'll be posting recipes (both great ones and not-so-great-ones as I continue on this fun quest in my love for food and healthy living!

I'll start my first posting with one of my absolute favorite recipes that I've become pro at!

Disclaimers: I tend to eyeball instead of measure & I encourage you to edit these recipes to your taste, because in all honesty, that's what I do! :]

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

[adapted from "Food for Life" Book]

1.5 cups chickpeas/garbanzos (drained & rinsed, save the liquid)
1/2 cup roasted red bell pepper (you can buy this in a jar or make your own)*
some green onion diced
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon tahini**
3 garlic gloves minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1/4 cup of veggie broth or you can use the liquid from the garbanzos

Place everything (except the broth) in a food processor or blender until smooth. Add the broth as needed for a smoother consistency! Serve with anything you'd like to dip (carrots, celery, bell peppers, pita bread, etc.)!

*- roast a red bed pepper in your broiler for 5-10 minutes, cool down in a brown paper bag, then the black burned stuff will roll right off and you'll have a delish red pepper); or you can just buy one already roasted- I recommend making your own!

**tahini: buy sesame seeds- usually in the Mexican spices section for less than a buck. Place them in a baking dish and put them in your oven for 5 min at 350F; careful, they burn quick! You just want to brown them a tiny bit!
Place them in your blender or food processor and add a tiny bit of extra virgin olive oil as it blends until you get the desired consistency. It should be thick but smooth!

-Want it to have an extra kick? Add fresh jalapeños!

ENJOY!