Today I bring you a recipe perfect for picnic season. A little cheese, a bottle of wine, a few crackers, some crunchy veggies, and this roasted red pepper and green olive hummus are an all-star al fresco dining cast. If you need something sweet (as I always do), throw in some cookies or pie bars. Of course, you can easily pick up hummus at the market, but making it yourself is simple. All you need is a food processor or blender, and you can customize ingredients to make a silky smooth, fresh hummus.
If you are looking for some light, but satisfying, entertainment, I highly recommend watching Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix. I’m watching it right now (I like a little distraction when I write), and it’s a happy tonic to the current daily news. It’s exhausting, frustrating, and depressing to watch and read beyond the agendas of the left (CNN, etc.) and the right (Fox News, etc.) to find the truth somewhere in the middle, from people and stories generally not being represented, and not trusting any of it at this point. I’m taking a break.
Also, Salt Fat Acid Heat, with Samin Nosrat, on Netflix as well, is excellent.
I have set an intention to lead with a light heart going forward, though I’m sure I will fail at times (I’m prone to rants). Emotions about the state of our world are higher than most of us have ever witnessed, political opinions are super polarized, and I think it’s important to understand we are often not going to agree with people closest to us. Trust me; if you are watching one news channel, and your friend/family member/coworker is watching a politically opposing channel, you will have vastly different views of current events. And you will both be wrong (Lol – just kidding. Kind of.) In any case, you are not likely to change the other’s mind.
Radical kindness, openness, and acceptance are needed for peace when understanding and agreement may not be possible. Turning fear into anger and using it to take action is necessary and productive. However, holding on to it turns it into bitterness, resentment, and self-righteousness, none of which are helpful when it comes to healing and maintaining relationships. I know I sound preachy. Please know I am mainly preaching to myself as I struggle to keep some sanity and an open mind.
So, find some common ground, throw a picnic blanket on it, make some hummus, drink wine (but not so much that you start arguing) and have some deep belly laughs with the people you love. And, turn off the damn news, at least for a while.
Roasted Red Pepper and Green Olive Hummus
(makes about 2 cups)
1 15-ounce can Garbanzo beans/chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup green olives, drained (approximate measurement)
1/2 cup jarred roasted red peppers, drained (approximate measurement)
2 tablespoons tahini
fresh juice of one lemon (about 3 tablespoons)
1 clove of garlic, peeled
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (slightly less if using a finer table or sea salt)
1/8 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Gather ingredients.
Measure ingredients and place them in the bowl of a food processor or blender.
Blend until smooth. Blend some more until super smooth.
You’re done! Wasn’t that easy? Put it in a cute jar and refrigerate.
Remember ~ If you can’t talk about anything else, there’s always food!
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