Hummus

There are a number of ways that this favorite recipe can be pronounced or spelled. That even applies to the way the product is made. One thing is for sure. You can prepare this chick pea dip in short time, have unique variations, at a fraction of the cost of commercially available spreads. Begin with Barzi 16 oz Garbanzo beans. Here are the directions:

Ingredients:

Barzi Garbanzos (Cici Beans, Chick Peas)
8 cups water
2 cloves of garlic (garlic salt may be substituted)
Salt to season
1 cup Alessi or Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Juice of one lemon
Pine nuts or tahini (sesame seed paste)
Reserve some garbanzo beans for decoration
Spices and ingredients to flavor (will be discussed later)
2 teaspoons baking soda

Bring water to a boil, add garbanzos. Allow to boil for 15 minutes and let stand from one to four hours. After this time, the garbanzos should be soft enough to mush with your fingers. If not, bring to a boil and repeat the soaking process until soft. If you are going to prepare the hummus later, pour out old water and add new water and salt. These beans may keep for a day before the actual preparation.
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In a food processor, add enough garbanzos to fill half of the container. Begin to process, adding olive oil or pine nuts, or sesame tahini for blending. You know when to add the oil because the beans will be too thick for the blender and the oils make the product emulsify well.

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Once the paste is ground fine, add flavorings to the mix as well as the lemon juice for preserver.

Some of my favorite flavors (but surely not limited to) are:
Vigo Roasted Peppers
Vigo Pesto (Fresh Basil, Alessi Imported Parmesean cheese, Barzi Pine nuts, Vigo Olive Oil)
Barzi Sundried Tomatoes
Honey Mustard Dressing
Comino Spice
Vigo Olives: (Pitted) Green and Black (chopped Fine)
Garlic (Roasted Garlic)
Or anything else that is your favorite flavor.

Blend until smooth.

Pour in serving bowl, create a crater in the top, add olive oil. Decorate plate with softened garbanzo beans.

Serve with toasted pita bread.

This recipe makes enough for a small army so save some and give as gifts to your friends!