Little Speck on Big Planet

I am often asked where I come up with all my ideas for food. Sometimes I see a recipe that inspires me to make something similar but often times I just make stuff up based on what I have on hand. I am then often described as being creative in the kitchen. I guess creativity is one way to look at it, I look at it more from the standpoint of I don’t want to waste any food.

The abundance of food we have in this country is astounding. And since our country is so large, it takes an enormous amount of resources to get that food to us the consumers. This is one reason why I am a big advocate of sourcing my food from local farms. When you add up the water is takes to produce the food, the oil it takes to transport your food, the electricity used to refrigerate your food, etc…, the cost of getting that food to your plate is much higher then the dollar amount you paid for it. When you look at it that way, allowing food to go bad and throwing it away takes a much bigger toll on your wallet.

I am always looking for creative ways to use all the food that is already in my house. This recipe was born out of the fact that I had cilantro and limes that needed to be used sooner rather then later. Flipping through a Vegetarian Times magazine I saw a recipe for a Cilantro Hummus. Since I just love hummus in any form I immediately set out for the kitchen. My recipe below is my version (and frankly I think it sounds much better then theirs). I made this hummus with ingredients on hand and did not have to buy anything to complete it. This is a much yummier way to use up cilantro and limes as opposed to throwing them in the trash.

Cilantro Hummus

2 15 ounce cans of chickpeas, rinsed and drained

2 cups cilantro leaves, loosely packed

2-3 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

6 Tablespoons lime juice

3 Tablespoons olive oil

4 Tablespoons water

Combine the first 7 ingredients in a blender and process.  Stop to scrape down the sides as necessary.  Add the water 1 Tablespoon at a time until you have reached the correct consistency.  You may not need all 4 or you may need more, it will vary from time to time.