Hummus Canapes & Kitchen Appliances

I LOVE MY KITCHEN APPLIANCES.......they make cooking efficient- with the right tools, anything is possible. Today I am speaking primarily of my trio of MUST HAVES for the vegan kitchen-The Vita-Mixer, The Cuisinart Food Processor and my new food dehydrator (this one being the most recent addition but I have already embarked upon dried apples, mangoes, sprouted and dried almonds and next will be Kale chips!).


My Cuisinart has been upgraded to a beauty of a machine this winter and I just adore it. They have made a lot of changes since my older model which I had for over 10 years- including a work bowl that nests inside a larger work bowl, allowing for smaller jobs to be processed easily with less clean up or in lieu of using the bigger bowl. The price is around $180-225- depending where you buy it from but is well worth every penny.

My Vita-Mix, which I have had again for over 10 years is one of my most favorite kitchen tools EVER....I do soups, desserts, shakes, drinks- this thing is like a blender on steroids and for me proves to be an invaluable asset to my kitchen counter. It is expensive, I think maybe $3-400, you can also purchase refurbished ones that cost less and come with the same lengthy warranty if anything should happen (NOTHING DOES-the thing is a monster....)
There is a job for each tool, and some jobs that can cross from one to the other so that is what I am playing with lately- which job goes with what tool. Last night I made Fresh Spring rolls and made home made Hoisin Sauce- (peanut butter, tamari, sesame oil, chili sauce, vinegar and ume paste) and I tried it in the small work bowl of the Cuisinart- it was messy- I ended up transferring the sauce over to the vita-mix and that's what happened for me today while making hummus.

Because my old processor was such a beast, I never kept it on the counter- thus I never pulled it out to use it either. I would make delicious creamy hummus in the vita-mixer but today , I tried making it with my new silver bullet Cuisinart, gloriously seated on the counter. I have to say- the vita-mixer makes it like commercial hummus you buy in the store- no lumps, no chunks- smooth blissful Hummus. The Vita-mixer also allows you to incorporate herbs or peppers and blends eveything entirely for full flavor of each added ingredient. SO...I started in the Cuisinart but ended up in the Vita-Mix....

I love Hummus- what could be bad? Chick Peas...tahini.....garlic...lemon juice....YUM.... I had Chick peas staring back at me for the past several days in the fridge- left over from my Chick Nuts explosion last week, so for lunch, I made Hummus Canapes (hummus atop home made seasoned pita crisps, tomatoes and sprouts)...

Hummus:

• 2c cooked chick peas, washed and drained
• 1/4c olive oil
• 1 heaping T of tahini
• 2t ground cumin
• juice from one lemon
• 1 clove of garlic, smashed
• 1/4c water
• salt and pepper to taste

Put everything in the processor or your choice except the water- add in slowly to desired consistency. Season to taste.

Pita Crisps:

• 3 whole grain Pitas, cut into triangles
• 2-3T olive oil
• 1t cumin
• 1/2t paprika
• 1T nutritional yeast
• salt & pepper to taste

Toss all of the ingredients together in a large bowl and mix until well coated. Lay out pita on a cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 6-8 minutes or until browned and crispy.

To assemble the canapes, spoon hummus over a pita crisp, top with diced tomatoes and sprouts. *D E L I C I O U S*