Cauliflower No-Bean Hummus

by Amie on January 27, 2012

Last weekend I was walking down in the West Village when I came upon one of my favorite health food stores, Lifethyme Market.

It’s always been a fun spot to walk around and look at the fun, new products as well as their homemade prepared food bar.

Now, if you know me well enough, you know that I cannot eat out yet because of my food intolerances.

I wish I could but I just still cannot.

Still healing, but I hope soon.

Anyhoo, I saw this amazing Cauliflower Hummus that they had and I read the ingredients about 20 times before I honestly almost had a heart attack.

O my gosh; I could eat it.

O my gosh.

You would have thought I was a kid in a candy store.

Nope, just Amie in a health food store eyeing the cauliflower mash.

I died and went to heaven.

I didn’t know what to do. I’ve never been able to just stop in and pick up some food to munch on in so many years. I felt like an alien.

I took one of the to-go containers and put about 10 cups of this ol’ cauliflower hummus inside, grabbed a spoon and an avocado and headed to the register with the biggest smile on my face.

The clerk must have thought I was crazy because I ripped open the bag that he put my container in and dug into the cauliflower right then and there outside on 6th avenue in the West Village.

I almost cried.

Actually, I think I did.

So emotional.

I felt so cool.

So amazing.

Wow, this is what it feels like to be able to go into a store, pick something up and just eat it without worrying or getting sick.

I peeled my avocado, cut it in half and spooned the cauliflower hummus right inside.

Bite.

Bite.

Bite.

I ate the whole thing.

Yes, I ate an entire avocado and about 20 cups of this cauliflower hummus on 6th avenue on the corner in the West Village on a 20 degree Saturday afternoon.

And I loved every minute of it.

Every. Single. Minute.

Then I took a deep breath, realized I was so full and jumped on the subway home.

Quite possibly the best day of my life.

Quite possibly.

Yes, it’s the small things that matter and that make you feel so good.

And you can bet what I did on Sunday morning.

I went out and bought 4 cauliflowers.

Steamed ‘em and mashed ‘em up into my own hummus creation.

I leave you with my famous, life-changing bean-free white mush that has changed my life.

Seriously, my birthday is in 3 weeks and I just may ask my family to treat me to another 20 cups.

It was just that good.

Life is good.

Cauliflower No-Bean Hummus

Gluten-Free and Vegan

Serves 2

  • 1 head organic cauliflower, cut into florets
  • 1 cup vidalia onion, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 cup cilantro, finely chopped
  • 2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 cup Shiloh Farms cashews
  • 1/4 tsp. sea salt
  • 1/6 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  1. In a medium pot, steam cauliflower florets with 1 cup of water for 5 minutes or until soft.
  2. Combine all ingredients in a food processor; pulse until mixture forms a creamy consistency.  Transfer to a serving bowl. Serve warm with crudites, gluten-free crackers and toast.
  3. Enjoy.

 

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Chocolate Chip Chili Cookies

by Amie on January 23, 2012

Honey comes from bees.

Apples come from trees.

But homemade cookies come from heaven.

Or a good friend down the street on Park Avenue.

Hehe.

I have a new (well, old) recipe for you today and I know you’re gunna love it.

I love the feeling of baking homemade cookies. It makes me feel so domestic, like my Grandma Isabel or my Nanny Emily.  Just thinking of their skin-so-soft hands helping me mix the batter when I was a young one.

There’s something special about chocolate chip cookies, isn’t there?

They’re so simple, yet so darn good.

Why is that?

I mean it isn’t every day that you come across a simple food that tastes good…well, that is unless you’re hanging out with me.

Hehe.

I just love every bit of these little cookies.

Leave it to me and Kirstin to bake up some tasty chocolate chip cookies. Her gluten-free recipe is amazing and you will love.

If you’re anything like me, you love nothing more than pulling a hot sheet of semi-sweet, golden brown cookies out of the oven.  Bonus points if the cookies are a cinch to make, don’t require much thought and can be eaten alone.

Or with a sprinkle of chili powder on top.

Chili powder?

Yes.

Chili powder.

You know I love me some sweet n’ savory.

This is the first thing I’ve baked at Kirstin’s and it felt so good.  Almost better than yoga. It’s been awhile since I’ve gotten my paws dirty in dough and I was yearning for that lovely hot flash that heats up my apartment when I open the oven.

I’ve made my fair share of gluten-free chocolate chip cookies but I won’t lie and say I wasn’t happy to make this old fashioned recipe.

The end result is a golden brown, slightly sweet chocolate chip cookie that’s gluten-free and loaded with sweet goodness.

Let it be known though that these cookies have a touch of cashew flavor to them.

Why’s that, you ask?

Because, along with my addition of chili powder, I added in some ground cashews, too.

A little extra protein boost.

Why not?

It’s more incentive to take a bite, right?

Go ahead.

Chocolate Chip Chili Cookies

Created by Kirstin

Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free

Makes 12 cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Spectrum Naturals Organic Shortening
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 cups plus 2 Tablespoons Brown Rice Flour Mix (see below)
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. xanthum gum
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. chili powder
  • 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup cashews

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Beat shortening and sugar with electric mixer. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat until fluffy.
  3. Add flour, baking soda, xanthum gum, salt and chili powder. Mix at medium speed until well blended.  Add chocolate chips; mix by hand until well combined.  Grind cashews in a coffee grinder to make cashew flour. Then mix 2 parts cookie dough with 1 part cashew flour.
  4. Drop tablespoon of dough onto cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake in center of oven for 8-10 minutes until light golden brown.

 

{ 2 comments }

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I’ve gotta little secret to share. I love wasabi. You know that bright green lookin’ wasabi that you enjoy with your sushi? You know exactly what I’m talking about. For quite some time, I’ve been  wanting to create a masterpiece with my beloved wasabi.  And I just did.  Granted, they aren’t exactly like the wasabi [...]

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