Keep-Me-Healthy Hummus

It seems like the weather has everybody down these days. Fevers to sneezes to ear aches to tummy troubles, winter has brought an array of uncomfortable companions. But they aren't the only ones riding in on winter's shoulders, with the cold comes the holiday season bearing good tidings... and sugar and starch and very few leafy green vegetables. It sounds like a recipe for immunity self destruct, but I'm fortunate that despite a few of my pre-holiday indulgences my immune system has stood by me, keeping me afloat.

Now I must tell you, I don't have a crazy awesome immune system trained by Chuck Norris. But I guess you could say it's trained by The Beatles, (WARNING cheesy punch line ahead) since I get by with a little help from my friends. :)

The "friends" that I count on to get me by cold and flu season are ginger, green tea, honey, fresh local veggies, and lots of garlic. Garlic may give you terrible breath but it's a small con that's seriously outweighed by the pros. My favorite property of garlic is that it is antifungal and antiviral. It's sort of a ninja just waiting for some bug to try to come into your system... so it can karate chop it in the throat! It's also anti-inflammatory, great for your cardiovascular system, and makes you unappealing to mosquitos. I should mention it causes you to be very unpopular in Transylvania, which I guess could be a good or bad thing depending on whether you're team Edward or team Jacob.

Today I'm making a very simple snack  that includes all of my best seasonal friends, garlic hummus with turnip "hearts" and ginger green tea. Hummus is a very popular Middle Eastern dip/spread that owes much of it's distinct and delicious flavor to one of it's main ingredients: Tahini or sesame seed paste. Once I got a taste for this paste, I started throwing it in everything from stir fry's to desserts! I like to buy East Wind brand tahini because it's Missouri made, it can be found in any Missouri health food store and most HyVees near the peanut butter.

Garlic Hummus
1 can Chickpeas
1/4 cup Tahini
1/4 cup Lemon Juice
1/4-1/2 cup Olive Oil
5-6 cloves Fresh Garlic
1/2 tsp Sea salt
1 tsp Ground Coriander (opt.)

Combine all but Chickpeas in food processor or blender and pulse until Garlic is well chopped. Add Chickpeas and blend until smooth (if too thick to blend, add a little more Olive Oil). Serve with a drizzle of Olive Oil on top.

My favorite things for dipping are fresh Hakurei turnips, which are a small white turnip that are milder and sweeter than most radishes. Radishes and carrots are also very tasty with hummus, but whichever root you choose you're sure to get a hefty dose of vitamin-c. I guess I should inform you that turnips always taste better (especially to toddlers) if they are sliced and cut into hearts with a small cookie cutter. Something about that shape just brings out another level of veggie awesomeness.
Of course you need a tasty beverage to go along with your snack so go on and steep a few slices of fresh ginger and some  green tea in hot water for about 3 minutes. Stir in a teaspoon of raw honey and pour over ice. A pretty paper straw makes it go down a little better, but that's just personal preference. :)







Enjoy this gratifying snack knowing you're getting your immune system ahead of the game, one delightful bite at a time!