The Garbanzo Bean

I love the garbanzo bean. You can buy the beans by the can from any grocery store, and they are super cheap. In addition to the two following recipes, use garbanzo beans on top of your salads. They are fabulous!

Pasta, garbanzo beans, and veggies
I made this up tonight and it was DELICIOUS (yes, I actually made something without a recipe that was good...I am improving). Serves 3-4 depending on how much pasta you make. I actually made it for just me and used half of the amounts listed below.

whole wheat penne pasta
1 can of garbanzo beans
1 onion
1 bag of fresh spinach
1 orange bell pepper
salt

Make the pasta according to the package and drain. Cut the onion and bell pepper and put in a skillet with the spinach (I just used a cooking spray to cut the calories, but you can also use olive oil). Cook the veggies until they are as soft as you like them. Make sure the spinach is good and cooked. Add salt to taste. Drain the garbanzo beans and set aside.

Once done, put the veggies on top of the pasta and then add the drained garbanzo beans. If you're on weight watchers (http://www.weightwatchers.com/), 1/2 cup of garbanzo beans is only one point! Plus, they really fill you up, which is always a plus. Add spray butter or real butter and enjoy!

Red Pepper Hummus
2 large garlic cloves chopped
1 15oz can garbanzo beans (drained)
1/3 c Tahini (sesame seed paste)
1/2 c fresh lemon juice
1/2 c chopped drain roasted red pepper from jar

Blend garlic, add garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice and process until smooth - add red peppers. Blend until smooth. Eat with veggies, pita, or crackers.

Easy Dip

Here's a great and easy dip from the lovely Louisa. These ingredients would be great to have around the house and when a few friends come by, pop this in the microwave!

Green Chile-Corn Dip

1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 small can diced green chiles
1 8oz pkg cream cheese (I use the reduced fat)
1/2 stick margarine or butter
Diced pickeled jalepenos, to taste

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a microwaveable bowl or in a saucepan. Microwave or heat on stove low until all ingredients are melted and combined. Add chopped pickled jalepenos, to taste, if you like it spicy. So good, so cheap, and SO easy! Serve with tortilla chips (I like Baked Scoops) or Fritos. Serves 4 (recipe is easily doubled or tripled).

Salty and Sweet

Here are two fun, easy ways to make pretzels a little sweet:

Morgan's Treat (courtesy of Morgan Griffin)
regular sized pretzels
hershey's kisses (any kind will work, the hugs are my fave because they look really fancy with their stripes)
candy garnish (m&m's or reeses work well and with m&m's you can cooridnate the colors or holidays or parties i.e. red, white, blue for July 4th)cookie sheet for baking

preheat oven to 350. unwrap the hershey's and place in the center of the pretzel, right on the twist. put in the oven for about 2 minutes - you want the chocolate to be soft but not completely melted. press your candy garnish into the soft chocolate and let cool. i put my trays in the fridge to cool faster

Deer Tracks
small pretzels
rolos
pecans
cookie sheet

Place the unwrapped rolo in the center of the pretzel. Preheat oven to 350 and melt the rolo on the pretzels. Once melted, place the pecan right on that melted rolo

Make your popcorn fancier!

Here are a few combinations you can use to really spice up your popcorn and make it extra yummy. Just add the following ingredients on top of popped popcorn. Experiment and create your own combinations!

- salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese

- pepper and white cheddar popcorn salt

- dark chocolate shavings

- tobasco ( I love this on popcorn, but some people don't like their popcorn a little soggy)

- cajun seasonings

- melt butter in a skillet and pour right on top....yumm!

- combine popcorn with vanilla ice cream, caramel, and nuts