Hummus - Middle East

Hummus with pita bread/chips is a delicious and refreshing summer snack. I can't believe summer is almost over and couldn't end it without making some yummy hummus. I first came across this recipe when I was pregnant trying to find all different kinds of healthy snacks to munch on. It's an excellent healthy snack and would also be great as an appetizer when visitors are over.

It's a pretty simple dip to whip up by throwing all the ingredients into a blender or food processor. Make sure you refrigerate it after and enjoy it for a week (maybe even longer) after it's made. The recipe is from Our Best Bites: Mormon Moms in the Kitchen.

Ingredients:
1 (15.5-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
1 large clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons tahini
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
4-6 tablespoons water, divided
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced parsley for garnish

1. Combine chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice, tahini, salt, pepper, cumin, red pepper, and 3 tablespoons of the water in a food processor. Process until smooth. With processor running, pour in olive oil. Process until just combined. Add additional water by tablespoon until you reach the consistency you like.

2. Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. For optimal flavor, refrigerate for at least 2 hrs before serving. Right before serving, top with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and chopped parsley if desired. Enjoy!

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

This is cake #2 I made for my boy's birthday; his special "smash" cake! I probably ate about 20 times more of this cake than he did because of it's addicting flavor. It was really simple and even a slightly healthy alternative to a store bought frosting.

Cupcakes or carrot cake/cupcakes would also taste delicious with this frosting. The lemon zest adds a yummy taste without overdoing it for your taste buds. This recipe is a must try and I promise you will not be dissapointed with it's extreme deliciousness. I found the recipe on food network.com by Ellie Krieger.

I couldn't resist adding a pic of my cute big boy!

Ingredients:

8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest


With an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and lemon zest until smooth and creamy.

With an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and lemon zest until smooth and creamy.

Frost cake or cupcakes as desired and indulge!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Monkey Cake and Cupcakes

Happy 1st Birthday Maikah!

My son's 1st birthday was the 18th and I couldn't resist making this delicious and cute monkey cake. I know it doesn't really go with the international theme of my blog but there was just no way I couldn't post this yummy cake. 

Since there was no room to write Happy Birthday on the cake I decided to make cupcakes to go along with the cake. The peanut butter frosting adds a unique and delicious flavor to the cake. It's also not too sweet to handle. The Cocoa Krispies add a unique and tasty crunch to the cake. Since I love chocolate chip cookies I decided to use those for the ears but I'm sure any other cookie would work.

I found the recipe from birdonacake.blogspot.com doubling the frosting recipe for the cupcakes and ended up just using a box mix for the cake with store bought chocolate frosting. For a healthy alternative I substituted the oil required for the cake mix with applesauce, it still came out delicious.

Ingredients:

1 chocolate cake mix
1 `jar of chocolate frosting
1 cup Cocoa Krispies cereal
2 large cookies
2 white candy melts
2 brown M&Ms

1/2 cup salted butter (softened)
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 cups confectioners' sugar
approx. 1/8 cup milk

Peanut Butter Frosting:

In a medium bowl, beat the butter and peanut butter with an electric mixer until well combined. Gradually add the sugar. When it starts to get thick, add the milk a little at a time until frosting is spreadable. (The amount of milk you use depends on the thickness of your peanut butter.) Beat for 3 minutes or until fluffy.

Assembling Your Cake:

Level your cooled cake layers. Place one layer on a cake stand. Spread peanut butter frosting on it, then top with the second cake layer. Spread peanut butter frosting on top of the cake, in the shape of a monkey face. Carefully spread chocolate frosting around the edges of the face and down the sides of the cake. Slide the cookies into the frosting between the cake layers, opposite from each other. Press cocoa rice cereal into the chocolate frosting. Spoon some chocolate frosting into a decorating bag or ziploc with the corner snipped off (cheaper alternative). Pipe dots on the back of the M&M's and attach them to the flat side of the candy melts. Put candy melts on the cake or the eyes. Pipe a nose and mouth.   Enjoy and maybe make some cupcakes to go with it!