Jeans & Barefoot

This recipe is quick, easy and yummy, not to mention it makes plenty to go around {or have for snack for a week}!

My first experience with Hummus wasn't a good one. I was 18 and worked in a Deli that was owned by two brothers from Jordan. They made hummus at the deli and it was just ick! It tasted bland, had a weird gritty texture that made me shutter anytime I got it on me! Ack it gives me the heebie jeebies just thinking about it! I didn't try hummus again until a couple years ago and it was good! When I first got the Vitamix I saw how good the hummus looked in the Whole Foods Recipe Book and knew I would have to try it. I did, and boy am I glad! It's NOT bland...or gritty, and it doesn't make me shutter, in fact, I can't stop eating it! It's not only great with pita bread, but fresh carrots & bell peppers too!

Hummus

Yield: 3 3/4 cups (360 g)

2 15-ounce cans chick peas (garbanzos), one drained, one with liquid
1/4 cup (35 g) raw sesame seeds
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup (60 ml) lemon juice
1 garlic clove, peeled {I used 3}
1 teaspoon ground cumin
salt
 
1. Place all ingredients, except salt, into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
2. Select Variable 1.
3. Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High.
4. Blend 1 minute, using the tamper to push the ingredients into the blades.
5. Season to taste with salt.

I've always wanted to make my own pasta/pizza sauce, but didn't want to endure a massive amount of tomatoes, sauces, blending, mixing, canning, etc that typically comes with homemade sauces. I set out to find a 'good' sauce that could be multifunctional for pasta or pizza, and hopefully have enough left to make another {or more} dish out of the recipe.

The first place I turned to was my Vitamix Whole Foods Recipe Book. I set out to make the Fresh Tomato Sauce, went to the store and got the ingredients that I didn't have {Roma tomatoes & tomato paste} and hurried home to make my first sauce! I made everything as directed but it just didn't come out right! It wasn't a normal sauce color, more like a light orangeish red, and was really bland! My husband and I both talked it over and decided that it probably wasn't the recipe, or anything that I did, but the tomatoes. I had bought a few extra {in case I fell in love with the recipe and had to make more}, they were all about the same ripeness..but not ripe enough! Another problem with living in an area of the country where everything is shipped in! {I did list the recipe below because I will try it again another time, when tomatoes are ripe here!}

Soooo, to my discouragement, I went on another hunt for sauce! I happened upon hemmingshalfdozen.com during a Google search. I read the Pizza Sauce recipe over and it sounded really good, easy and pretty fail proof! I made it and it was GREAT! The sauce is just the right pizza sauce thickness, but easily thinned out with water to use in pasta dishes! The taste is great, it was easy to make, and there was enough to make 2 pizzas and spaghetti with sausage! My son complained a little that his mouth was itchy {his new description for spicy foods} but still ate away!

**Her comments are in ( ), mine are in { }**

hemmingshalfdozen.com Pizza Sauce

1 Onion, chopped
3 Cloves Garlic, chopped
1 28-ounce Can Diced Tomatoes
1 12-ounce Can Tomato Paste
1 Tablespoon Honey
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 to 2 Teaspoons Dried Herbs (I use oregano, basil or thyme) {I used Italian Blend seasoning}
1/2 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (optional)

In a large saucepan over medium heat, saute onion and garlic until soft and translucent.
Place into Vita-Mix (or any blender) along with diced tomatoes and tomato paste and blend until smooth.
Pour back into saucepan and add remaining ingredients. If mixture is too thick, add water a little at a time until desired consistency is achieved.
Simmer sauce for a half-hour or so to allow flavors to meld together.
I use this sauce (with or without meat or meatballs) for pasta, too. Leftover sauce freezes well for future use.

Yield: 3 1/2 to 4 cups


Vitamix Fresh Tomato Sauce

Fresh Tomato Sauce

Yield: 2 cups (480 ml)

6 medium Roma tomatoes, quartered or 4 cups chopped
1 small onion, peeled, halved or about 1/3 cup chopped
1 small carrot, halved or about 1/3 cup chopped
2 tablespoons (30 ml) tomato paste
1 garlic clove, peeled
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
 
1. Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
2. Select Variable 1.
3. Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High.
4. Blend for 2-3 minutes.
5. Pour into saucepan. Simmer for 35-40 minutes. Serve over pasta.

2 frozen bananas
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 tablespoons nutella
1/2 cup fat free vanilla yogurt
1 3/4 cup milk
Coffee mug of ice
Blend until smooth....DELICIOUS!

Living in a cold climate I don't necessarily want frozen smoothies all the time but I do want COLD smoothies for a sweet treat in the place of ice cream! This fit my needs 100%! The frozen bananas along with the ice was just enough to get blended and not freeze. It made enough for one glass, the boys water bottle & another half of a big glass!

Ummm YUM!!!

I will take have to remember to take pictures of all the yummy stuff I'm making in my Vita-Mix...but I don't remember until my glass is half empty!!

Tonight was the Apple Pie Smoothie found on Vita-Mix Recipes. I was wanting something sweet, different, and used apples that I have in the fridge.

Apple Pie Smoothie

1 Frozen Banana
1/2 Peeled Apple
8 oz. Apple Juice
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
Nutmeg, pinch

Blend. Great substitute for applesauce! Control the consistency by adding more or less chopped apple.

My banana wasn't frozen and I didn't have nutmeg, I added a couple ice cubes and blended away!! It was delicious, like a liquid cinnamon-y applesauce!

I fell in love with Vitamix 5 years ago and have been dropping not so subtle hints to the hub & my mom since then!! The hub knows the wonderfulness of Vitamix (he's in love with the Chicken Tortilla Soup & the green smoothie from the demo) and my mom loves all things kitchen and cooking gadgets but hasn't been graced by the presence of Vitamix..YET!

For my birthday the hub & my parents & a little from myself went in together & I FINALLY got one :) YAY!! Yes I know, I know...I'm spoiled. But in my defense...it's SOOOOO worth it and I've only had it 2 days!

I have made 2 concoctions so far and love both!!

Yesterday for breakfast I (sorta) made the Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie from the Vitamix site.

Peanut Butter - Banana Smoothie

ripe bananas, peeled, frozen 2
milk 16 oz
creamy peanut butter 2 oz
sugar 2 tablespoons
imitation banana extract 1 teaspoon

Yield: 2

Place all ingredients in a Vita-Mix® blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into tall glasses and serve immediately.

My bananas weren't frozen, and I didn't add the sugar or extract but it was AMAZING!! I poured it into a blender bottle and took it to work with me. I drank both servings and was full until dinner time!

The taste was great! Like a banana covered in peanut butter, and the consistency was about like a melted milkshake..not milky but not thick either.

I decided to make it when I brought the boy home from school and he chugged it right down & said it was tasty!

Tonight I came up with another concoction. I'm sure its been made before but it was also a hit!!

2 bananas
1 naval orange
4 pineapple slices (all I had was canned)
1/2 of the pineapple juice from the can of pineapple slices
apple juice
ice

Blended until smooth & its oh so goood!!! Very tropical and refreshing!

I cannot wait to make more stuff and pass my addiction on to other unsuspecting Vitamix lovers!

Do you have a Vitamix? If so what's your favorite concoction?