Easy Hummus

One of the hardest things about trying to diet is what to snack on. I mean we all get munchy during the day and they do say lots of small meals are better than one or two big ones.

I have always loved hummus, but I never thought of making it at home until I found a recipe in my favorite Weight Watchers cookbook, Take-Out Tonight. They have a very easy and figure-friendly recipe in there that I have modified a bit. Now while this is probably not "real" hummus, it's pretty darn tasty. I love the lemon in this recipe. It really provides a brightness. For an extra kick I add a few slices of jarred jalapeños.

This is a great snack, with pita bread, carrot sticks, celery or endive.

Ingredients

• 2 (15 1/2-ounce) cans of garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
• 4 tablespoons tahini
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
• 2 cloves garlic (3 at the most - be careful)
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• salt to taste (about two good pinches)
• 5 slices jarred jalapeño peppers (optional)

Instructions

1. Drain and rinse garbanzo beans, reserving the canned liquid.
2. In food processor or blender, combine garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, cumin, and salt. Blend until mixed.
3. With food processor running gradually add about 2/3 cup of the reserved liquid through the feed tube and process until very smooth. (Add more or less depending on consistency.)
4. Add five slices of jarred jalapeño peppers. (This is just the right amount for a nice kick.)