kabocha squash hummus w/ avocado oil drizzle & roasted sesame seeds

gotta love me some hummus, especially when it involves squash!  you might ask, "why did i use kabocha instead of butternut or acorn?"  well, the simple answer is b/c i had a kabocha squash that desperately needed to be put to good use.

and so i pulled out my handy little cuisinart hand blender and went to work.  now perhaps i'm more obsessed w/ this new, recently purchased, (dark purple) kitchen gadget than my actual obsession for hummus, but whatevs.  it seemed like the right thing to do at the time.  and after one bite, i knew i'd done the right thing w/ my kabocha.

recipe: makes a good-sized bowl full

ingredients                                                                                               
kabocha squash, roasted & scooped out of skin
   tahini    
      fresh lime juice                                                                                    
         fresh cilantro, chopped                                                            
            fresh garlic, minced                                                              
               coffee spice rub (this may be omitted; i just threw a little in)                                      
                  low-sodium stock (veggie, chicken, whichever)            
                     red pepper flakes

                        avocado oil

                           roasted sesame seeds

                              s&p
                                 h2o

blend all ingredients together.  drizzle w/ additional avocado oil.  toss some roasted sesame seeds on top.  grab a good and sturdy chip.  you know the rest.

mounds of glory

well i must say, my intentions were to make fresh blueberry muffins...until i realized i don't own a muffin pan--oops.  i could've sworn i had the right equipment!  anyways, i was determined to bake something delicious, and so therefore, i opted to modify a yummy breakfast cookie recipe i recently came across.


my hubby was the first one to try these freshly baked treats, and he really liked them.  i was trying to come up w/ a name for them, and he suggested, "mountains of glory."  funny, the name seemed appropriate, i liked "mounds" better, and so that was that.
thanks honey! :)

recipe: makes 4 "mounds"

ingredients
old-fashioned rolled oats
golden flaxseed, ground
hemp seeds
chia seeds
dried blueberries
dried white peaches, finely diced
pecan, roughly chopped
ripe banana, mashed
coconut oil, liquified
organic blue agave
vanilla
shredded coconut
cinnamon
cardamom
salt

mix everything together and form into "mounds," place on a silpat liner, and bake @ 350 degrees until golden brown.  e-a-t!