ariel's making ... pesto hummus

i adore fresh basil ... and i love hummus ... so why not combine the two?


for this dip you'll need:

4 cups of organic cooked garbanzo beans, plus 1 cup of their liquid
juice of 2 organic lemons
garlic ... as much as you dare! go wild!
handful of fresh organic basil leafs

4 T. organic roasted tahini
2 T. extra virgin organic olive oil
1 t. organic cayenne powder
sea salt and pepper to taste


blend it all together 'til smooth.


so good ... and so easy.

serve with fresh veggies and pita and enjoy!!

kisses,

ariel

Karina's Inner Monologue making a Birthday Cake...

"Karina, will you make my birthday party cake?"

"Yes, yes I will. What flavors do you want?"

"Surprise me, I trust you."

"Done."


Mango, Lime, Basil Cake with Ginger and Cinnamon... I'll make it vegan.



I'll use my favorite go-to vegan cake recipe as a base and add my mango-basil puree. Better use a little less water than it calls for since this is a lot of green liquid.

Wow...good.


Now for frosting. I have earth balance and powdered sugar to start with and I guess I'll mix it with the other half of this mango, basil, lime, and ginger. I think I'll add these dates too. And some more cinnamon. It needs an extra kick...this splash of Jameson I have in the freezer...

(This actually may be the best frosting I've made...)


My favorite garnishes, figs, are back. Gotta use them. These oranges will look good too with some more fresh basil and dates.


This looks kinda alright...


I have to start trying to sell my cakes...


Here, let me arrange the candles for you (hands off my cake.)



Another Happy Birthday for the books.

ariel's making ... baby 'chokes with fresh pesto

all purple and green ... these little artichokes are quite a chef's dream!


shuck off a lot of the outside leaves because they can be very tough ... then slice them in half.


chop up some fresh garlic and saute it in a pan with olive oil ... then add your little 'chokes.


saute for about 3 minutes, them add about 1/4 c. of water and cover and let them steam for about ten minutes 'til they're tender.


while they're steaming, make some pesto ... i made some with fresh basil, green garlic, olive oil and salt.


serve your dainty little artichokes with the pesto and a bit of strong feta.

delish!!

kisses,

ariel