Creamy White Bean and Mushroom Appetizer

An ordinary appetizer? Not this bold and magnificent dip/spread! Sautéed mushrooms, pine nuts, creamy white butter beans, fresh herbs and tasty seasoning make up this delightful blend. Got company coming? This will be a hit!!

Hummus Appetizer With Mushrooms, Onions, and Chickpeas

Hummus with warm chickpeas, mushrooms, and onions makes a tasty appetizer that will keep your guests coming back for more. 

I forgot to take a photo when I made the warm appetizer;
this photo is after serving 

Sunday night we were invited to a cocktail party, and I was asked to make and bring "crispy mushrooms and hummus." I said that I would be glad to make it, but I wasn't familiar with how to make crispy mushrooms. The host shared that she had seen the recipe in the New York Times.

I was not able to locate the recipe, but I did find a few other recipes on the Internet that sounded similar.  This is my own recipe based on the sound of the name. 

My mushrooms and onions were sautéed and soft, but everyone seemed to like the final product. I also topped my hummus with chickpeas and pine nuts.

In the past, I've made a spectacular hummus appetizer that called for spreading the homemade hummus on a plate and then topping it with sliced olives, halved cherry tomatoes, cilantro, and pimentos. 

I now make a oil-free hummus that I used this time. 

I served this delicious warm appetizer with crudite of sliced cucumbers and baby carrots and some gluten free chips. 

How I made it:

• First I made my homemade hummus. oil-free hummus
• Next, I sautéed onions and mushrooms using vegetable broth 
• When done, I spread the hummus on a flat plate  
• Topped it with warm sautéed onions and mushrooms
• Added pine nuts and served while warm 
• For myself, I do not use oil- however I did drizzle with oil for the cocktail party 

Notes:

I sprinkled with a little garlic powder, salt, cracked pepper, and cumin - I thought about about red pepper flakes but held back.

The hummus was room temperature and the toppings were warm.

Quinoa with Pine Nuts and Cilantro

If you love quinoa and are looking for an exciting side dish, this recipe will win you over. 

Finding a variety of ways to enjoy quinoa is easier than you think. 

Twice a month, I participate in a pot luck couples dinner with a group of friends. I am usually asked to bring a gluten-free vegan side dish that I am able to eat (being the only one who is gluten-free and vegan).

It's been an interesting challenge for me to come up with different ways of preparing rice, quinoa, or potatoes to be able to bring something different each time we meet. 

For this recipe, I decided to add toasted pine nuts or pignoli (as they are called in Italian) to add to my quinoa.

Where Do You Find Pine Nuts ?

Who would have ever thought that pine nuts actually come from pine trees! In fact, the nuts are the seeds found in the pine cones of the pinyon pine tree which is a small evergreen.

Pine nuts are expensive because they are difficult to harvest.  

However, they really make any dish extra special. 

In Florida, I am able to get an ounce and half of pine nuts for about $4 which is the perfect amount for this recipe. 

The theme of our pot luck this week is Iranian/Persian food. I was asked to make something to complement the main entree of Iranian/Persian meatballs. 

Of course, I won't eat the meatballs, but I will eat this quinoa dish. In addition, I'll eat the salad and vegetable dishes. 

This wonderful Meditteranean style recipe is easy to make and will delight your taste buds. I toast the pine nuts to bring out a richer creamier texture and flavor. I cook the quinoa with some cardamom to give it a slightly sweet flavor which is very typical of some Persian dishes.

Ingredients: 

3 cups of uncooked quinoa 

1 ounce of pine nuts, pan toasted (see notes)

1 cup of chopped tomato

3/4 cup of chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 cup chopped red onion

2 tablespoons of cumin seeds, divided

optional: 6-8 cardamom pods

Dressing: 

1/3 cup of freshly squeezed lime juice. 

1/4 cup of water

1 tablespoon of honey (or agave if you don't use honey)

Mix the lime, water, and honey until blended.

Directions: 

Cook quinoa according to the package directions or (use my easy Instant Pot recipe) adding the cardamom pods and 1/2 the cumin seeds. When the quinoa is done, allow it to cool slightly and then toss with remainder of ingredients and the dressing.  

Notes: 

How to toast the pine nuts

Heat a skillet, place the pine nuts in the pan and toast for about 2-3 minutes and shake to prevent burning.

 

Did you know that quinoa contains a significant amount of protein?  

 

Nutritional Benefits of Quinoa

• 1 cup of cooked quinoa provides 8 grams of protein- same as a 8 ounce glass of milk
• I cup of cooked quinoa has 5 grams of fiber.
• Quinoa is actually a seed but is considered a whole grain
• Quinoa is also gluten-free 

Though technically a seed, Quinoa is classified as a whole grain and is a good source of plant protein and fiber. One cup cooked provides about 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber. .  

 

How to Make a Great Salad

Who doesn't enjoy a tasty colorful salad? 

We eat salad every night with our dinner, and I try to include a variety of all kinds of salad greens and vegetables. However, I only prep salad twice a week. Read on to see what I do.

Spaghetti, Pine Nuts, Spinach and Mushrooms

Everyone loves spaghetti and this interesting combination with spinach, mushrooms, and pine nuts is exceptional.