Do you know where your blender is tonight?

It just occurred to me that I have no idea where my blender ended up after our recent move :-(

This saddens me greatly. As of late, I've been craving a delicious green monster (spinach smoothie). Argh, guess I will have to try making one in my food processor.

One of Zak's Christmas presents is also M.I.A. due to the move. It was in a Target bag in the basement, and is likely buried under stacked boxes in our storage area. Hope that I find it soon, otherwise he will be without the present.

I digress... tonight's lame-o dinner included some Health Valley split pea soup (vegetarian) and a toasted sandwich with hummus and havarti .

This soup has tons of fiber and protein per serving, and is low in fat but also lacks any flavor whatsoever. Yech. I doctored it up with some Cholula hot sauce (not pictured), salt and pepper.

The hummus and havarti sandwich was wonderful in texture, but uber bland in taste.

I added some spinach for freshness and crunch, and dipped the folded sammie into the soup to get in on the Cholula action.

Tonight was a productive evening in the kitchen. I made a huge batch of homemade hummus, this time adding 1/4 cup of leftover caramelized onions in addition to my standard couple cloves of garlic and 1/3 cup of green olives. I always say that the flavors need to meld overnight before the hummus reaches ass-kicking flavor levels, however I am trying some out right now and have to say... wow. Caramelized onions are a must from now on.

I also baked a bit, I made the Chocolate Peppermint Bark cookies that have been huge in the blogosphere. I subbed in whole wheat pastry flour for over half of the white flour (because I ran out), we'll see how they go over tomorrow and Wednesday.

I've been on a kick for Peppermint Bark, last night I tried out Meghann's recipe and tonight I attempted to cut it into pieces. Let's just say that crushed peppermint discs are sharp! I managed to break it into cute little portions.

Now, I am going to wrap some gifts and enjoy the guilty pleasure that is Golden Girls... for the next hour. Gawd, I love having cable. G'night!

Food Processor Processing

So I've been thinking it over, and feel that I am ready for a big commitment. A life-changing decision. Time to step up and get serious, no more flirting with the short-term views.  You know what this huge commitment is centered upon? 

Hummus. Yep, the delicious chickpea-based dip. That, and my love of soups. And dips of any kind. And sauces.

Alas, my friends... my big adult commitment is to purchase a food processor. I feel that this is a large step as 1. we have limited kitchen / storage space in my apartment and 2. these appliances cost a chunk of change. However, upon deciding that hummus is one of the most delicious foods known on Earth, this decision will enable me to MAKE MY OWN delicious hummus creations. 

Ange's recipe (Oh She Glows) for pumpkin + black bean hummus seems delectable! Kath @ KERF's recipe for lemony hummus looks delish. 

Aside from hummus - food processors are great for quick vegetable prep. I find chopping veggies to be very relaxing but sometimes can take a little more time than I prefer when famished. I don't wanna get hangry while cooking! 

It will be awesome to make hummus, dips, soups and more in the processor. Also, I have been hearing about this amazing banana soft-serve "ice cream" recipe from Gena at Choosing Raw, and can't wait to try it out. Again, the food processor is a necessary piece of equipment as it incorporates air into the mixture while handling several frozen bananas at once. I think that would kill my blender!

Back to the hardware discussion. I've reviewed several models and haven't yet decided which one to get... this model from Amazon.com, the KitchenAid KFP740CR, is looking pretty good. The cost is about $150 and Amazon ships for free... it's tempting because it is a 9-cup processor but also comes with a 4-cup mini bowl, it's versatile. Most of the cheaper, "mini-processors" have a 3-cup limit and since I usually cook for at least 2 servings, the larger size will be more of my style. 

So the $150 bones is a big investment, but I know that choosing to make my own hummus, dips, etc. from whole foods at home will help me save money over store-bought products in the long run, and will aid in my goal of knowing exactly what foods I am putting in to my body. 

Tonight at work we've got The National, it is a sold-out show and should be incredible. 

Weekend plans include baking a ton of White Russian cupcakes - a post on that tomorrow as I am attempting to make the recipe a little healthier - for an all-day tiki party at the Jacobsens' on Saturday, which is an annual affair that is much anticipated. My friend Janis and her parents are hilarious and hospitable hosts. Her Dad has been known to wear a hula skirt and other tiki accessories, so I have to find an outfit to suit the occasion! Janis, our friend Melissa and I had a fun time at the Tom Jones concert last Friday, and went to Vegas earlier this year. 

On Sunday, we may possibly be cheering on Zak's sister Jem and her boyfriend as they compete in the Door County Triathlon. Gotta love the race's slogan "Can't Bluff the Bluff!" lol. Jem is an incredible athlete and she's ran something like 15+ marathons, and has gotten into tri's over the past couple years. I really enjoy hearing her training stories and hope that someday I will be as gutsy and ripped as her! Good luck Jem and Kevin :-)

Back to work with me... have a great day!