Still Struggling with this FUNGUS!!!

Hi Folks! I thought I had the victory...I really did.  I've been trying the works, because I REALLY want to get rid of this scalp fungus NATURALLY.  I want to stop using non-natural (chemical) substances on every part of my body so I'm pulling out all the stops! At least I thought I was.

I'm feeling defeated because just when my scalp seems to get better..........the fungus comes back with a vengeance!  Take a look:



It's like my whole scalp is coming off!

This is what I've done over the last year:
1. Tea tree oil
2. Apple cider vinegar (worked at first, but then had no effect)
3. Ginger, onions and aloe
4. Black walnut ointment and hull (mix the hull with water, apply to scalp then rinse off) The ointment went on my scalp.

I have to wash my hair once or twice a week due to my fungus friend build up.  Tea tree shampoo works well, and I try to wash my head scarves often.

So now I think it's time to look inside myself and fix this....Literally! We are what we eat/drink right? Our skin/scalp is a reflection of what's inside.  So I have an internal issue with fungus.  All of the topical remedies I've used have stopped working.  It's time to look within.  I need to change my diet and refrain from foods that fungi love. 

But what is a fungi?  Fungus is commonly known as yeast and mold, and can cause an array of issues like allergic reactions, athlete's foot, candida, ring worm and food spoilage.  Fungus can also help provide yummy food and drinks like: bread, soy sauce, beer, wine, kimchee, miso and Quorn.  Mushrooms are fungus. How many of you love mushrooms? 

Moldy strawberry

Mushrooms

But don't mistake fungus for bacteria.  They are two very different organisms.
You can only see most bacteria with a powerful microscope and lab equipment, but the effects of a bacterial infection can be felt in a sinus infection, food borne illness or strep throat.  Ever heard of E.Coli????

Bacteria

 

I posed the question "how do I successfully get rid of my fungus friends?" to a group of herbalists at Natures Has All The Answers on their weekly radio show and the feedback was clear.  Change my diet by eating and drinking foods that fungi hate and clean my blood.  I'm down for another challenge.  Let's call this one the "GET RID OF THIS SCALP FUNGUS FOR GOOD" challenge. 

Stay tuned ya'll! Don't forget to give me some tips and encouragement!

Peace and love!

Plants are Cool : Plantain The Anti-Poison

Herbal Bush House  is back to tell us about another wonderful creation in the “Plants Are Cool” spotlight.   I’ve posted about products that I’ve used in the past made by Herbal Bush House and they’ve kindly agreed to do a monthly post on herbs to enlighten us all.

Herbal Bush House is dedicated to promoting knowledge of the use of food, herbs and water through educational programs within the community.  Their mission is to empower people with wisdom and understanding of the use of nature’s blessings to promote healthier lifestyles.

Plantain - The Anti-Poison:

The Plantain you find on the lawn is usually Plantago Major. It is a broad-leafed plant that stays low to the ground, and has a little crooked seed stem that grows up out of the middle of the plant. Plantago lanceolata is usually found in backyards and waste places. It is a long narrow leaf with the veins that run parallel from stem to tip. Some plants will grow a foot tall and the seed stem grows straight up from the middle of the plant sometimes reaching heights of two feet.



Plantago Major



Plantago Lanceolata

Plantain is an infection fighter for the immune system. It fights blood poisoning, kidney and bladder infection, poisonous bites and stings. Here is a testimonial story. A man took his favorite dog on a hunt one day, the dog was bitten on the shoulder by a diamondback rattlesnake. When he got the dog back home, he put some plantain juice on the bite, the dog kept licking the juice off. He put some plantain juice in a bowl and the dog lapped it up. Then he smashed up some plantain leaves and put it on the dogs shoulder for a couple days. The dog laid around the first day , the second day she was up and down, but the third day she seemed normal , thanks to plantain.

Plantain is one of those herbs recommended for many ailments: poisonous bites and stings, boils and carbuncles, tumors, inflammation, eczema, thrush, blood poison, yeast infection, ulcers, bed-wetting, poison ivy and many more. Plantain leaves are best used fresh, the plant can be put in a blender roots and all. The macerated fresh leaves can be put on bee stings and used for skin irritations. The important constituents of plantain is the gluside aucubin and allantoin. Plantain can also be used for burns, cuts and wounds and insect and flea bites as well.


Plantain (Plantago Major)

Ribwort Plantain (Plantago Lanceolata)

Look for plantain in your back yard!! I wonder if you will find it?  I know we've used it for Caleb's eczema...in oil and leaf form.

Peace and love!

Plants Are Cool: Ashwaganda - The Stress Reliever

Every month you will hear from the herbalists at Herbal Bush House in what I’m calling the “Plants Are Cool” spotlight.   I’ve posted about products that I’ve used in the past made by Herbal Bush House and they’ve kindly agreed to do a monthly post on herbs to enlighten us all.  They sell personal care products like face cream, shampoo, hair pomade, Gut Buster, probiotics, and a host of slaves and oils for various ailments and conditions.  All products are 100% natural and made with care.

So let me formally introduce you:

Herbal Bush House is dedicated to promoting knowledge of the use of food, herbs and water through educational programs within the community.  Their mission is to empower people with wisdom and understanding of the use of nature’s blessings to promote healthier lifestyles.

Now let's get down to business!

Ashwaganda: The stress reliever

Withania somnifera commonly called Ashwaganda (Ash-wa-gan-da) also known as Indian ginseng is an adaptive herb and one of the best I may add.  I love it. It doesn’t matter how hard and stressful your life may be.  A cup or two of Ashwaganda can ultimately bring that stress level down to zero. Stress can affect the body in many ways. For instance a person under enormous stress can develop high blood pressure, an over or under active thyroid, low libido, fatigue, digestive issues and a host of other ailments. Stress takes a huge toll on your adrenal glands. As you ascend into the burnout zone and are at the point where you can’t focus on anything and everything gets on your nerves, think of Ashwaganda as a good friend.  A friend there to help you through the hard times.  Because of the great adaptogenic properties of Ashwaganda coping with stressful situations can be simple whether at home or at the workplace. Ashwaganda is a general tonic that can increase energy levels in the body, it’s also know to help aid in proper thyroid function, insomnia, male and female fertility, anxiety and more. Ashwaganda is also known as Indian Viagra because it has been used by many men to rid themselves of impotence.

Ashwaganda!

Ashwaganda!

 Your health is your command!

Natural Pain Relief!

Hi Folks - I had a terrible experience at the dentist last week that I'm still suffering from. I ended up in a lot of pain and since I am in the process of flushing my liver, I didn't want to take any pain medication that my liver would have to process.  So I was advised to do two things: 1) take white willow bark tea and tincture and 2) place cloves and clove oil on the affected area. 

I was seriously on the verge of popping some pills, but I took a leap of faith and tried  the natural home remedies that were suggested.  Needless to say both applications worked extremely well and I now have two more natural remedies in my treasure chest. 

Let's talk about why these two plants sources (white willow bark and cloves) helped relieve my excruciating pain. 

White Willow Bark: 

1.  The bark from the willow tree  is actually  used to make medicine. The active ingredient in aspirin (acetyl salicylic acid), is derived from white willow bark.   The bark  is used to relieve pain from headaches, muscle aches, menstrual cramps, arthritis, and gout. 
2. Historically, willow bark was commonly used during the time of Hippocrates and people chewed on the bark to reduce fever and pain

White willow bark

How I used White Willow Bark: 

• I steeped the bark in hot water and drank as a tea (no sweetener) for three days.  The tea was devoid of any taste (which I prefer over extremely bitter teas). It was like drinking warm water. 
• After the third day, I added the white willow bark tincture in my herbal tea

White willow bark tea

Cloves: 

1. Cloves are the flower bud of a tree and are native to Indonesia
2. Cloves are used in various types of healing practices such as: Indian Ayruvedic medicine, Chinese medicine, and herbalism and dentistry where the essential oil is used as a painkiller for dental emergencies. 
3. It's an aromatic spice that is used in many types of cuisines.

Clove buds

                                  

How I used Cloves: 

• The first day I actually put 5 clove buds in my mouth where the pain was coming from. I kept them in ALL NIGH LONG.  Within 30 minutes the pain was gone. No joke!
• The next day along with taking the white willow bark tea, I applied the clove oil to the affected area using a cotton swab.  Initially, the oil burned but in about 15 seconds the burning sensation dissipated and I was left pain free. 

Clove oil

Cotton swabs used to apply clove oil

I am a true believer and witness to the healing power of willow bark and cloves.  If you have a dental emergency and are in pain don't hesitate to go back to the dentist to get retreated as necessary. I am not suggesting that you should not get rechecked if your soul leads you to that conclusion. 

 Honestly, I was a bit perturbed at the pain I should not have been in based on the procedure that was done. So I WAS NOT willing to go back to the dentist for ANY treatment. I still have pain, but my natural remedies are working.  If you have even minor aches and pains, try white willow bark.  You can contact Herbal Bush House for the tincture or go online for the tea or powdered versions.  If you are suffering from dental pain, try the cloves. You can find clove buds in any nearby grocery store and the essential oil in most health food stores. 

I'm more and more convinced everyday that nature can meet all of our needs! 

Please let me know what your experience is if you're brave enough to suck on some cloves!!!

Peace and love!

Detoxification: Liver and Onions Part 3

Hi Folks!

I'm on week three of my pre flush regimen.  So far so good!  I have not experienced any debilitating detox symptoms like in the past.  I started having headaches last week for about 5 days straight.  I think the toxins were getting loose and  revved up! I increased my water intake and hopefully flushed them out.

I also have less bloating and can fit into pants that I was not able to wear just two weeks ago!!!!! Awesome sauce!!!

I've  added probiotics back in to my regimen because the bloating I was experiencing prior to starting the flush was connected to my gut flora being out of control.  Probiotics help put the gut flora back into balance and decrease the daily bloating (gas forming) parties that bad bacteria like to have.  Ever seen your belly grow 3 more sizes through out the day leaving you feeling like a pig in a blanket?   Well that was me.

Gut bacteria

I've also been taking a natural supplement that helps move my bowels.  When you detox, toxins are eliminated from your body by various mechanisms.....bowel movements are one way.  And since the liver is an important part of digestion, you have to keep the bowels moving.  This is another product  from Herbal Bush House I've added to my daily regimen.

Natural colon cleanser: cape aloe leaf, barberry root, cascara sagrada (say whaaat??), garlic bulb, rhubarb, black walnut, cayenne pepper

My cravings for refined sugar have decreased and I'm able to quench my sweet tooth with fruit and hibiscus and cinnamon tea.  Alright now!!  I'm taking baths 2-3 times per week, exercising regularly, consuming more living foods and dry brushing my skin.  Overall I've been able to clean up my diet and I'm excited about the second part of the flush although I'm still a bit leery of what detox symptoms I may face.

Stay tuned!! :)

Peace and love!

Detoxification: The Liver

The liver is an extremely important organ. It is vital to our health.  Without it our bodies could not function properly.  I never paid much attention to my liver until I started on this natural journey.  I've learned that purging your liver of toxins is a must and should be done at least once per year. Here are a few amazing facts about the liver.

1. The liver performs over 500 functions
2. It is critical to metabolism of carbs, fats and proteins
3. It weighs approximately 4 pounds
4. It can manufacture 13,000 chemicals and has 2,000 enzyme systems
5. The liver can break down hormones like cholesterol, testosterone and estrogens
6. It processes all food, nutrients, alcohol, drugs and anything else that enters the bloodstream by letting them pass, breaking them down or by storing them. 
7. The liver breaks down toxins ingested with our food. But if the liver becomes too congested to enzymatically process nutrients we cannot get the benefit from eating nutritious food.

Now do you see why we have to help keep it going strong?

Foods/practices that are compatible with the liver:

1. Drink lots of water (include lemon)
2. Fresh vegetable and fruit juices - especially carrot and beet juices
3. Raw foods (no preservatives)
4. Dandelion
5. Fresh fruits and vegetables (apples, celery, asparagus, prunes)
6. Spices such as ginger, turmeric, rosemary and licorice
7. Regular bowel movements

Things that can harm the liver include:

1. Overeating
2. Processed and imitation food
3. Low protein, high fat diet  (which include fried foods and  saturated fats)
4. Excessive alcohol use, drugs, tobacco and caffeine
5. Insecticides, preservatives and other toxins

Toxins are just not found in our food, we get them from the environment too.  That's why even if you have a clean diet, dextoxing or flushing our your liver is necessary.

I'm so excited about finally detoxing my liver.  I'm a bit scared about what is going to happen during the actual flush since my liver hasn't been "cleaned" almost 35 years! I think I'll go into seclusion that week! Have mercy!

I want to encourage you to start thinking of ways to live a healthier life.  You don't have to give up anything....just start ADDING the good stuff like: more water, more fruit, more exercise, etc.  By the time you know it, your body will be so full of goodies, it won't have room for any junk.  Note: this little pep talk is for me too!!

This week, think of ways to increase your water intake. Just water....your liver will thank you for it!  Tell me how it goes!! :)


Peace and love!

References:
1 - Digestive Wellness - Elizabeth Lipski
2- Natural Remedies Encyclopedia - Vance Ferrell and Harold Herne, M.D.

The Health Journey: PMS - friend or foe?

Ladies, ladies, ladies!  Most of you probably read this article title and guffawed at the audacity I had for questioning if  PMS could even be considered a "friend"! For most women "that time" of the month is riddled with pain, discomfort, fatigue, mood swings, hot flashes and uncontrollable crying or laughing.  That's what we tenderly (or angrily) call: Pre Menstrual Syndrome (PMS).  I've suffered from PMS since my cycle started when I was a wee age of ten.  I've never had bad cramps, but since I was 22 years old, I've suffered from the dreaded night sweats.  Years ago at an annual check up, my doctor asked me to explain my PMS symptoms.  I spoke of my crazy mood swings and she gave me some pink pills that would "help" me.  I've never been a fan of pill taking, but I took the sample anyway.  I never used the mood altering pills, and never actively sought a remedy for my PMS woes. I just dealt with the hand I was given month after month.   After I entered motherhood my body CHANGED!  My breasts didn't get as tender anymore and my energy levels were pretty stable but the night sweats came back and the mood swings I used to have turned into small anxiety attacks which currently scare the daylights out of me!

So what can I do??? Well I started researching PMS and natural remedies to manage my night sweats and increased anxiety. 

Here's what I found:

1. There are over 150 symptoms linked to PMS.  In addition to what I listed above there are: headaches, acne, swollen feet, depression, joint pain, insomnia, impatience, dizziness, constipation, hemorrhoids.  I'm sure you can think of 20 more!
2. PMS can occur 1-2 weeks before menstruation occurs.
3. Bearing children or being married can increase the likelihood of suffering from PMS and it can be a major cause of divorce.
4. Hormonal imbalance is the main cause of PMS.  Estradiol is a type of estrogen that builds up in the body if not eliminated.  When there is too much estrogen and not enough progesterone in your body fluid gets retained which affects circulation and impedes oxygen and nutrient flow to the brain and female organs. 
5. Diet is key to managing/minimizing PMS.  Women who eat a lot of refined sugar, fat, dairy, and salt suffer more severe symptoms.
6. During the premenstrual period the body wants more sugar for fuel.  When you over overindulge because of the craving  blood sugar levels shoot up then plunge which can trigger fatigue, mental fog, and emotional imbalance.
7. If you are regularly constipated, your liver cannot get rid of excess estradiol effectively.
8. Women who consume a lot of caffeine are more likely to have severe PMS.
9. Most of our meat and diary products contain hormones.  Since PMS is all about hormonal imbalance the more hormones you ingest, the more severe your symptoms will be.  Food treated with hormones lack progesterone and have excessive estrogen.
10. Vegetarian women eliminate 2 - 3 more times estrogen in their feces than non-vegetarians.  Which makes sense, because the meat containing hormones is not consumed.

Wowzers!!!!!! Last month my night sweats were unbearable and my anxiety and mood swings were on another level!!!!   I was under a ton of stress and was feeding the frenzy with junk food.  No wonder I had bad night sweats. I felt like I was LOOSING MY MIND! Can I get a witness???  This month I started early with my stress relief practices, eliminated junk and started drinking my herbal Hormone tea.  My night sweats were BETTER!

7 ways to cope with PMS the natural way:

1. CHANGE YOUR DIET! If you are eating a lot of fat, sugar, salt, caffeine and diary products, then stop it.  Try it for two months and see what happens.
2. You must start making changes early in the month.  Don't wait until the week of your period to make changes.  Start 2 weeks prior. 
3. Eliminate meat and other hormone laden foods.  Don't put the extra estrogen in your body.
4. Eat more fiber and drink lots of water so you can keep your system going....and going....and going.  Gotta help your liver get rid of the excess estrogen.
5. Exercise regularly.  Walking, running, playing sports or dancing is a great way to increase your oxygen intake which aids nutrient absorption and the elimination of toxins.
6. Get out in the sun.  Sunlight boosts melatonin and serotonin which help you sleep.
7. Start using herbs for relief.  You can used herbal remedies in so many format such as ointments for aches and pains, teas, slaves or aromatherapy.

Herbs for PMS (I know there are many more):

• Wild yam
• Angelica
• Chasteberry - can balance hormones
• Skullcap - can relieve nervous tension and irritability
• Raspberry - good for the uterus
• Ginger - can be a substitute for chocolate
• Dong quai
• Fennel seed
• Black cohosh
• Sarsaparilla
• Squaw vine
• Blessed thistle

My herbal Hormone tea (Original Herbal Remedies) is composed of the following herbs: Black cohosh, Sarsaparilla, Ginseng, Licorice root, Blessed Thistle, Alfalfa, Red Clover, Dong quai, Black Haw bark, Fo-ti. 

I'm a firm believer that NATURE HAS ALL THE ANSWERS!

Have you found natural ways of dealing with PMS?

Men - please share this with the lovely ladies in your life! Remember...we love you in spite of what come out of our mouths....It's the hormones talking! :)

Peace and love!

 

 

Reference: Natural Remedies Encyclopedia - Vance Ferrell and Harold Cherne, M.D.

The Hair Journey: 100% Natural Hair Care Products

I've stated before that since my hair is "natural" I want to nourish  and care for it by using natural hair care products.  These days there are so many products on the market for natural hair, but how many of the niche and mainstream products are all natural?  Most of what you find will contain some natural ingredients but not all.  The majority of the ingredients are derived by synthetic means and you can't even pronounce them!  The Kinky Curly line comes the closest (in my opinion).

Because of the desire to care for my hair with natural substances, I've expanded my hair care repertoire from shea butter, aloe and apple cider vinegar (ACV) to products made by Herbal Bush House.  For the last two months I've been using these products and I am VERY pleased!!! I started with the shampoo and rinse, then included the pomade.  They contain ingredients you can find in your kitchen or garden and I can pronounce every word! :)

1. SOIL HERBAL SHAMPOO:

Contains: purified water, rose, black walnut leaf, neem, rosemary, yarrow, foti root, basil leaf, horsetail, coconut oil, potassium hydroxide, olive oil, hemp oil, jojoba oil and citric acid

 

 

My rating:  GOOD, will continue to use


2. SOIL HERBAL HAIR RINSE:

Contains: purified water, hibiscus, amla, pea protein, apple cider vinegar, rose, black walnut leaf, neem, rosemary, yarrow, foti root, basil leaf, horsetail, coconut oil, potassium hydroxide, olive oil, hemp oil, jojoba oil and citric acid

My rating: The BOMB DIGGY, LOVE THIS STUFF!!! This product softens my hair, and I've been using it as a sort of "co-wash" when I don't want to shampoo my hair. 

3. SOIL HERBAL POMADE:

Contains: avocado oil, grape seed oil, coconut oil, olive oil, slippery elm, Irish moss, flax seed and rosemary essential oil

 

My rating: The BOMB DIGGY!!!! LOVE THIS STUFF!! I've been using it for my wet and dry twist and braid outs as featured in my last styling frenzy.  I've also been using it daily, especially after I release my twists.  It leaves my hair soft and "fluffy" and well nourished.

Dry skinny twist out using Herbal Bush House "Soil" line

Have you found any other 100% natural products on the market?  Do you make your own?

If you are interested in trying these products click the Herbal Bush House link and you will be on their webpage.


Peace and love!

Caleb's Corner: Vegan (allergy free) Banana Pancakes

I've continued to explore alternative breakfast options for Caleb based on his requests for "no more chia Mommy".   A co-worker of mine, shared a great Paleo banana pancake recipe that I tweaked to make it vegan and allergy free. Most of food blogs I read ALWAYS show a finished product that looks amazing...but I can't help but wonder how many have struggled with their "first attempts" and ended up with great tasting food that looked like a train wreck! Well, that was my first experience with these banana pancakes.  But since Caleb ate almost every morsel I'm sharing the experience with you!
 
Vegan (allergy free) Banana Pancakes:
1/2 cup of hemp seed milk
2 fresh bananas
2 TBS of coconut flour
egg replacer
1/4 cup ground flax seeds
coconut oil


Bananas, coconut flour, coconut oil, hemp seed milk

Mashed bananas first

Then wisked all ingredients together

Added egg replacer (at the last minute)

Blended mix

First two pancakes.....not pretty!

Here is where I ran into trouble.  The batter seemed too moist and it was hard to maneuver the pancakes in the pan....so I added flax seeds  (1/4 cup) on the fly to improve the consistency of the batter. 

Added flax seeds to help with consistency.....

 I still had trouble with sticking in the pan but the result was MUCH better than before! SCORE!  Well kind of...:)

Finished product ....much better!!
 

He's loving them!!

Oh yeah! :)



Nearly demolished! :)
 

Ever tired the Paleo banana pancakes?  What recipes have you tried and ended up with great tasting food that didn't look so good?

 

Peace and love!

Heavenly Hibiscus aka Spicy Sorrel Tea

I have found a great tea that satisfies my sweet cravings in the afternoon! Fist pump!! I actually said "N-O" to my friends Ben and Jerry, and "Y-E-S" to the alternative...... I'm calling it the Heavenly Hibiscus aka Spicy Sorrel Tea! Check out the benefits of hibiscus and how the tea is made on My Faith and Fitness Nutrition Nook page (click the link below).

http://my-faith-and-fitness.com/2014/03/nutrition-nook-zahra-heavenly-hibiscus-aka-spicy-sorrel-tea/

Peace and love!

Caleb's Corner: Banana Breakfast Remix

Caleb's favorite fruit is the banana.....he would eat 10 in a day if we let him! For about a year, Caleb's favorite breakfast has been "banana and chia" (chia porridge that is).  Welp, lately the King of Banana Land is getting tired of chia.....not of bananas!  "No I don't want chia Mommy" he exclaims every time he sees me pull it out of the cupboard. 

Chia porridge with banana

So I've been trying to find different ways to provide a healthy, allergy free breakfast for the little guy. 

I landed on banana smoothies!  It's been a great hit and while we used to let Caleb eat 3 or 4 bananas a day (yes, you read right), now we limit him to 2 a day.  The banana smoothie is a great way to give him the bananas that he loves and other nutritious food in literally one gulp.  If you are not giving your children smoothies yet, start now!! Just like for adults it's a great way to get a power packed meal. 

Here's the recipe:

Caleb's Banana Smoothie
1 banana
4 - 5 dates (pitted)
1/2 cup of frozen mango
1/4 cup of hemp seeds
water for desired consistency - you can use any juice instead

Blend it all up at once and Enjoy!!

 

 

 

Satisfied customer (Go Mommy! Go Mommy!)

Daniel Fast Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  After sleeping all night (hopefully), your body is ready for some nourishment (I know mine is!).  That's what "breakfast" is....breaking an all night fast.  Some people don't have appetites in the morning, but I think there's a disconnect there....at least drink a cup of tea! One of Caleb's favorite morning meals is chia porridge with bananas.  I remixed his morning favorite to suit my Daniel fast needs. 

Chia porridge with hemp seed milk, strawberries, bananas, pears and a touch of granola.  YUMMY! If you have not tried chia yet, please do!  It's such a wonderful seed full of nutrition.  It will take on any flavor you add to it and is excellent for weight loss.

Chi Chi Chi Chia!!

Eat up!

Peace and love!

More snacking on the Daniel Fast: HUMMUS!

Hi Folks!  This Daniel Fast has taken me on a journey that I did not expect.  One of the foods that I've been consuming the most is HUMMUS!  I've always loved this wonderfully nutritious dip, but could never make it pleasing enough to my palate.  Well....I've mastered the recipe and have even remixed it into a smoked out spicy version!

Chickpeas are the base of this amazing food. I think they are the most versatile legume (besides the soybean). 

Today I'm sharing the standard recipe that can be remixed to yield multiple flavors.

Classic Hummus:
2 cups of chick peas (freshly soaked and boiled)
3-5 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons of sesame tahini
salt (to taste)
fresh garlic cloves (to taste)

Here's how I made it:

Step 1 - Gather all ingredients. Note the chickpeas have been soaked and boiled. 

Ingredients

Step 2 - Blend all ingredients.  Add enough water to keep the blender going.  I actually prefer a food processor over a blender.  I can reach the desired consistency easier.


All ingredients put into the blender

Step 3 - Enjoy!!!

Finished product on red bell peppers with garnished with paprika

Add cilantro, cayenne pepper or chitpotle seasoning to spice it up!  I've been eating hummus EVERYDAY! LOVE IT! It fills me up with out the guilt!


What are your favorite hummus recipes?  I would love to expand my hummus repertoire.


Peace and love!