I have been addicted to making different dips lately…hummus (every flavor I can come up with), hot sauce/salsa/picante (depending on where you live), and now salad dressing.  I’m going to try to squeeze 4 recipes on this post.

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I have learned that the more fun food is, the more likely the maniacs are to eat it.  I bought these cool salad shells that the kids could eat, and suddenly a salad was much more appealing to them!  I also let them choose exactly what they wanted on their salad.  We had several options like taco meat, chicken, kidney beans, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, avocados, cheese, olives, onions, jalapenos, and more.  They ate every bite…and the bowl!

I made a yummy dressing to go on top, but I accidentally made it too spicy for the kids.  Brad and I loved it, and we ate it all week on chips and veggies.

It doesn’t have a name…

Green and Good Salad Dressing

Cilantro, Lime, Jalapeno Salad Dressing

Jalapeno Salad Dressing

Spicy Cilantro Salad Dressing! (I don’t know!  I think I’m delirious, so that sounds fine for now)

Complete recipe below.

Roughly chop the following…

1 Jalapeno

2 Cloves of Garlic (or more if you dare)

Half of a large Avocado

Large Handful of Cilantro

Squeeze the juice from one Lime

Put all ingredients in a food processor.  Add a small container of Sour Cream (8 oz).  Add Salt and Cumin.

Blend until smooth.

It tastes better than it looks.  This picture is pretty pitiful.  I could have at least tossed a cilantro leaf in for decoration…or put the bowl on a table that’s not scratched.  I was in a hurry.  :)  Give it a try.  It really is delicious!

Spicy Cilantro Salad Dressing Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 Jalapeno
• 2 cloves of Garlic
• 1/2 of a Large Avocado
• Large handful of Cilantro (about a cup)
• Juice from one Lime
• 1 Carton (8 oz) Sour Cream
• 1 tsp Cumin
• 1/2 tsp Salt

Roughly chop the Jalapeno, Garlic, Avocado, and Cilantro.  Combine all ingredients in a food processor.  Blend until smooth.  Eat with raw veggies, chips, on a salad, or just drink it.

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Hot Sauce…Picante Sauce…Salsa…whatever you want to call it!

This is Kellie’s recipe…basically.  Because I’m ME, I had to change it up just a bit.  Kellie, Mere, Tiffany, and I get together about once a week for girl time.  We always have hot sauce, hummus, and chocolate.  Might not sound good, but it is YUMMY!

Hot Sauce

Because I was in a hurry, there are no step by step pictures.  However, I know you’re smart enough to do it without the pics. :)

Ingredients:

• 2 Cans Diced Tomatoes, drained well (I even squeeze a little juice out or the hot sauce will be runny)  You can use one can of Rotel and one can of Diced Tomatoes, or 2 cans of Diced Tomatoes.
• 1 Jalapeno
• Juice from one Lime
• 2 Cloves Garlic
• 1/2 to 1 Cup Cilantro
• 1/4 of an Onion (about 1/4 Cup)
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Cumin

Roughly chop onion, garlic and jalapeno.  Place all ingredients in a food processor.  Pulse to desired consistency.  Add salt if needed.

Variation:  Meredith likes her onions diced, so she pulses all ingredients except the onions and then adds large diced onions to the salsa to give it flavor.

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Jalapeno Cilantro Hummus

I basically made the same recipe as the Caramelized Onion Hummus, except I added Cilantro, Lime, and Jalapeno instead of Onions.

Jalapeno Cilantro Hummus Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 Can Garbanzo Beans, drained (reserve liquid)
• 1-2 Cloves Garlic
• 2-3 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 1/2 Tbsp Reserved Garbanzo Bean Liquid
• 1 Jalapeno, roughly chopped
• 1/4 Cup Cilantro
• Juice from one Lime
• 1 scant tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Cumin

Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.  Stopping to scrape down sides.  May need to add additional olive oil to reach desired consistency.

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Kalamata and Feta Hummus

Same basic steps.  As you can tell, I just make the basic hummus recipe and toss random things from my fridge in it.  It’s always good! :)  This recipe was inspired by a hummus I had at FRESH (our new grocery store).

Kalamata Olive and Feta Hummus Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 Can Garbanzo Beans, drained (reserve liquid)
• 1-2 Cloves Garlic
• 2-3 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 1/2 Tbsp reserved Garbanzo Bean Liquid
• 1/4 tsp salt*
• 1/2 Cup Garlic and Herb Feta Cheese
• about 12 Kalamata Olives

Place first 5 ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.  Stopping to scrape down sides.  May need to add additional olive oil to reach desired consistency.  Add the Olives and Feta and pulse a few times.  I wanted my olives and feta to be a little chunkier than the hummus.  If you want a smoother consistency, blend them together from the beginning.

*The olives and the feta are salty, so use salt with caution on this hummus.  However, because of the saltiness of it, it tastes WONDERFUL on fresh veggies!

We ate almost every bite of those veggies and hummus.  My new fav raw veggie is ASPARAGUS! (thank you for introducing me to raw asparagus, Heather!)  It’s so delicious and great with hummus!

“Yummy!  You make me hummus, mama?!?”

My kids love hummus!  I love that they love it!  AnnaLeigh gets so excited when she sees me making it, and she couldn’t wait to dig in to this one!  So stinkin’ cute!

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On another note…Easter is tomorrow.  This should probably be a separate post and not part of the post titled “Dip, Baby Dip,” but I think it’s important to share and I know I won’t have time to write another post later.

Easter is a day to celebrate the RISEN LORD!  Christ died on the cross for our sins, so that we could have eternal life.  He paid the ultimate price.  He gave his life…but He, being the son of God, rose from the dead.  I know the Lord loves me.  He loves my maniacs, and He loves YOU!  He wants to have a relationship with all of us, and if you don’t know the story of Christ, I encourage you this weekend to find out who He is and why we celebrate Easter.  (I’ll give you a hint…it has NOTHING to do with a bunny that brings eggs.)

I know that Christ rose from the dead, and I plan on doing one or both of these activities with my maniacs this afternoon.  It’s just a fun way to illustrate that He is Risen!

My friend, Mandy, posted this fun and easy Easter Rolls recipe.

or I may try these Holy Week Cookies from a blogger that I don’t know, but I know I would love.  :)

Also, if you haven’t made Resurrection Eggs, it’s never too late.

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Have a peaceful Easter weekend focusing on the risen Lord!

⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.   -Matthew 28:5-6

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