So hummus happens to be a family favorite for meals and snack time around here.  I could eat it every day.  I eat it so much that I found myself constantly buying the family size hummus.  But you know the hummus you buy at the stores is never as good as the hummus at really great Greek restaurants!  Today I got home from work and my sister said “I really want hummus…” So in less than 10 minutes I made some hummus and cut some veggies while Isla Jane jumped around in her little swing {which she loves!}

So several years ago while I was at my FAVORITE Greek restaurant in San Diego {Cafe Athena} I asked the owner “So how DO you make hummus this great?” He said: “I can’t give away my secret but I will give you a tip; always, always, always blend {or puree} your tahini & lemon juice before you add anything else.”

So I did that and I’ve never looked back!!

This hummus is so amazing I DO eat it every day. It makes about a 1/2 gallon of hummus. Which is a lot of hummus! So get ready to eat hummus every day! Haha.

Disclaimer: homemade hummus is only good for about 10 days after you make it. So have a party 🙂 Because this recipe, while inexpensive, makes a ton of hummus! If you don’t want to have a party bring some to your friends who also love hummus.  Also, who doesn’t love hummus?

Here is what you’ll need: {I get all my ingredients at Trader Joe’s. They have the BEST tahini, hands down}

1. 3  Cans of Garbanzo Beans
2. 1 whole lemon
3. 5 cloves or garlic minced {makes about 3 tablespoons}
4. 2 tablespoons of olive oil
5. 1-3 tablespoons of sea salt {to taste preference}
6. 1 container of Trader Joe’s tahini (seen below) or 3/4 – 1 cup Tahini {to taste/texture}
7. 1/2 Tablespoon of paprika

So first off we start by juicing our lemon.

Secondly, add all of your tahini and lemon juice to a blender and blend for about 2 minutes.

Then add 1 can of garbanzo beans with the water from the can.  After, drain 2 remaining cans and rinse beans then add beans to blender {all in all you should use 3 cans of garbanzo beans}.

Add all of your garlic.

Add all of your salt.

Add 1/2 of your paprika.

Add half of your olive oil {or canola oil}.

Blend on high for 1-3 minutes.

Depending on what type of blender or food processor you are using it could take longer to blend. We have a Ninja and it does the job in less than 1 minute. We like our hummus thick so we don’t blend it as long.

Remember, you can personalize this recipe.  If you LOVE garlic in hummus, by all means, add MORE garlic.  Same goes for salt & paprika.

However, if you do add more beans, more lemon juice, or more tahini you may need to increase all of these ingredients for consistency so the hummus doesn’t get too dry or too watery.

Lastly…enjoy!

Love,
J

Okay, these fajitas are so easy to make! I didn’t follow a recipe just my knowledge of yummy Mexican food.

**If you want this recipe to be gluten free use corn tortillas!**

Here is what you’ll need:

1. Steak {I usually buy steak at the beginning of the month in bulk from Costo. Flank or Sirloin}
2. Steak seasoning
3. Cilantro
4. Lime
5. Red & Yellow peppers
6. 1/2 yellow onion
7. Corn or Flour tortilla
8. Sour Cream (I use FAGE yogurt)
9. Mexican Cheese
10. ALWAYS ADD AVOCADO TO EVERYTHING {GOLDEN RULE}

Directions:

1. I start by cutting all my veggies. Then cutting up all the steak into thin strips.  Season your steak with a good dose of your favorite steak seasoning.

2. Place your steak on a skillet & cook for about 5 minutes turning often. These are thin strips so they do not need to cook long.

3. Add your peppers & onion { I also add extra seasoning }

{photocred}

4. Let sit covered on low heat for about 5 minutes {or until veggies are tender}.

5. In the meantime, set out cheese, cook tortillas, and cut up some cilantro!

6.  Then serve hot 🙂 It’s so yummy!

7. After putting your fajita together top off with cilantro, cheese, lime juice, and some sour cream { or FAGE yogurt}.

Enjoy your 15 minute prep and about a 5 minute clean up!! Easiest dinner I ever made 😉

** You can also make some {Homemade} guacamole or salsa to go with your yummy meal!**

Love,
J

Well guys, tonight I just didn’t have time to make dinner.

I came home from work and all I wanted to do was cuddle with my baby. I didn’t want to clean up the kitchen, or the nursery, or our bedroom. I just wanted to be with my daughter and kiss her belly while we laid in bed.  So after bath time, story time and her last bottle I remembered I was starving.

So I looked in my fridge and here is what I got 🙂

You’ll need:

1. 1 chicken breast
2. 1 egg
3. Cheese {stinky cheese} I used Gorganzola because it’s what I had
4. 1 Avocado
5. Spring Mix salad
6. Your favorite salad dressing { I used cranberry walnut dressing from Trader Joe’s}

Start by boiling a large pot of water! If you have never learned how to poach an egg that’s okay! You can watch a Youtube video here and learn in a minute! It’s a piece of cake and poached eggs are SO yummy!

First start with a bowl for your Spring Mix.

Then add your cheese.

Then, cut up and add your avocado!

{ Take your chicken out of the oven and place it on your salad! }

Finally poach your egg! Add it to the top of your salad and drizzle with your dressing 🙂

ENJOY!

Love,
J

Chicken Marsala is one of our favorite meals in this household! However, it’s a pretty complex meal and has lots and lots of added stuff! So I cut it out and made it much easier to make!

It probably takes about 20 minutes because of baking the chicken!

So here is what you’ll need:

1. 4 chicken breasts
2. 1 can cream of mushroom
3. mushrooms
4. 5 yellow or red potatoes {whatever you prefer}
5. 1/2 cup of dry white wine
6. 3 tablespoons of butter & 1/4 cup sour cream
7. Salt, Pepper, and Garlic Powder to taste

1. Before I do anything I put a large pot of water on the stove to boil and preheat the oven to 425.

2. Place chicken in the oven for 20 minutes.

3. Cut up potatoes and place in boiling water let boil for 15 minutes or until extremely tender.

4. Cut up mushrooms {place in skillet and let heat for 5 minutes, covered.}

5. When mushrooms are tender add white wine. Let simmer another 5 minutes.

6. Add cream of mushroom soup to mushrooms.

7. Drain water from potatoes and mash in the pot. Add butter and sour cream. You can use the amount I recommended or you can use more or less!  Then add salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste 🙂

Serve with salad or veggies and enjoy 🙂 This should take about 20 minutes to make and serve! It’s a really easy clean up too!

Enjoy!

Love,
J

So when my husband gets home we are going on a tight budget 🙂 To prep for this change in our lives I have started researching so many options for money saving. The biggest money saver is with food {for us}. We eat out a lot and on top of it almost spend $200/week on groceries.  So I’ve researched and found 20 meals that are easy, healthy, and affordable!

I know so many of you are in the same boat so let’s do this together 🙂

For the next 20 days I’m going to be sharing my 15 minute meals & at the end of the 20 days I’ll give you guys a PDF of all the meals and the monthly grocery list with the costs and budget tools I use to spend less than $350/month on groceries and get to eat some awesome meals 🙂

So on the table tonight was one of my personal favorites: Southwest Sausage and Rice.

Chase and I made this a lot before be left because these Hillshire Farms chicken sausages are healthy and SO cheap at the commissary {$2.05 for 1}.

You’ll need the following:

1. Chicken Sausage
2. Mexican Cheese
3. Rice {white or brown}
4. 1 can black beans
5. 2 cups of corn {frozen}
6. Cilantro {I use frozen, Homemade}
7. Chili Poweder { 1/2 TSP}
8. Yellow Pepper
9. Avocado
10. 1/2 cup salsa
11. Lime or Lime juice {add at the end for taste :)}

First cut up your sausage and saute it on medium heat for 8 minutes turning meat frequently.

While your meat is cooking it’s a good idea to put our rice on 🙂 I use minute made!

This is the easiest cilantro to use. I was out of my homemade frozen cilantro and who has time to keep up with fresh herbs? Unless you have a garden {which I’m working on}

When the meat is done cooking cut up half of your yellow pepper. THEN add all of your ingredients {except the avocado and cheese}.

Add your 1/2 cup of salsa. Let simmer on medium-low heat for 5-8 minutes.

My daughter is still at a great age…she can just hang out and sing with mommy while I cook. Super looking forward to the days where she is running around the kitchen while I cook #sarcasm

Cut up your avocados while you wait 🙂

When everything is done you can either MIX EVERYTHING TOGETHER {Rice and stir fry} or you can just place your mixture on top of the rice.

1. add avocado

2. Add Cheese

3. Salt and pepper to taste {optional}

4. Sprinkle with Lime juice

We like to eat as a family 🙂 Just the two of us.

Hope you enjoy your gluten free 15 minute meal!

Love,
J