marsupials, hummus, cheese crackers, and friends
Not only was the weather beautiful today, but we had a lovely day with friends (and night because one is staying over). Lots of crafting, cooking, and playing!
Crafting- this marsupial monster mama had a baby! The baby loves to be carried in her mama’s pocket and go everywhere with her.
* Marsupial monster was made for Araina and will be put into her Spring basket this weekend.
Now for the cooking- I love cooking for my friends when they visit, here’s what I made to share today-
HUMMUS (recipe from here)
-Sooooo tasty and simple to make!
1 can garbanzo beans (chick peas)
juice of 1 lemon
1 garlic clove
1/3 cup chopped parsley
pinch or two of salt
2-4 tbs. good quality extra virgin olive oil
Put all of the ingredients, except the olive oil, in a food processor. Pulse and slowly add olive oil until you get the consistency you prefer. I only used about 2 tbs. olive oil, I like it a little on the dryer side.
CHEESE CRACKERS (adapted from here)
If you are a fan of baked cheese……RUN to your kitchen right now and bake these! They are so delicious and I can’t stop making them! These are the reason I could never be vegan!
1 1/2c. sharp cheddar cheese- the sharper the better
4 tbs unsalted butter
3/4 cup flour
1/2 t salt
1 tbs half and half
2-4 pinches of cayenne powder, depending on how spicy you want them
In a food processor, add the cheese, flour, and salt. Cut the butter into 4 pieces and add to ingredients. Pulse ingredients until you get coarse crumbs. Add the half and half and process until the dough forms into a ball. This takes about 10 seconds. I didn’t think a ball was even possible with such a little amount of liquid, but trust me it is. Form the dough into a log, wrap in parchment, and chill in the refrigerator for an hour up to a day (or freezer for 20 minutes).
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough into desired thickness. Cut into squares or use small cutters to form fun shapes. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Bake for 10-14 minutes until golden.
And of course you get 4 little girls together (and a cutie patootie 2yo brother) and there’s lots of playing going on! Playing in the ditch water was a highlight of the day; don’t let the short sleeves fool you, the water was COLD and the high today was in the upper 50′s! Maili and Fauna didn’t seem to notice though, they were splashing around and loved getting soaked. See the cute hair clips in Fauna’s hair? The owl was made by Fauna and Veda (Maili’s sister) and a little purple monster was made by Veda. Fauna wears them proudly!
HA! Araina refused to go into that cold water, she preferred to teeter on the edge!
Another great day planned for tomorrow…..a St. Patrick’s Day party! Toodles!
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Oh, my gosh…I just made those crackers and I can’t stop eating them! They are SO good. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I may yet convince my partner not to feel so deprived that I won’t buy packaged stuff… these are WAY better. And my kitchen smells amazing. Hooray! Crackers is one thing I hadn’t managed to make yet; now I’m converted.
Oh these are now on my “to bake” list. They look yummy. I posted about almond crackers last week or the week before so am newly in love with making my own crackers. Thanks for this one.
Yum! I love hummus and those crackers look so tasty and sound so easy!
I am cold just looking at those pics but what joy on their faces…memories for sure!
Greetings!
I made the cheese crackers and they are so very delicious. Thank you for sharing! I have been reading your blog for some time and quite enjoy it : )
Looking forward to trying this version of cheese crackers! Thanks for sharing!
i love the collection of photos, lisa!
we have been making and devouring hummus here, too, lately. i don’t put parsley in mine, nor tahini, but i do put sesame seeds, which is almost the same as tahini!
parsley seems like a great addition. any herb or veggie (or olives!) added sounds good right at this moment!
nicola
Which Name?
I love the marsupial monster!
Excellent looking hummus too.
I just love that picture of your girls in the muddy water… we call it the child magnet.
Just too much fun.
Warm wishes and joy, Tonya
Mmmmm….those cheese crackers look too good! I’m laughing because my boys got into their swim trunks yesterday and were romping around in the same kind of snow melt puddles.
Glad to see you’re enjoying the spring loveliness!
awww…marsupials. who doesn’t love a little friend in a pocket?
and I am excited for your cracker recipe. I have tried a few cracker recipes over the past few weeks, but they are all so bland and dry. These look delicious. Thanks!
Oh my! Those girls are full of beauty and spunk. Gotta love it!
Today was the traditional Irish dinner for us. But you recipes made me hungry for what I will cook tomorrow. Yumm and thanks!
I’m cold looking at them!! That humus looks tasty and love those clips!
I would love to try this hummus recipe. Parsley and hummus go together oh so well. The cheese crackers LOOK delicious
and I love the looks on your girls’ faces in the last picture. Sounds like a fun day!
Those crackers are definitely on my to do list. I love the marsupials!
What a fun day! I love hummus, and those crackers sound delicious to. Cute, cute monsters!
thanks for the cheese crackers recipe! i need something to entice dh to give up his nasty red boxed processed ones!
Thanks for the shoutout! So happy to have found your blog–I am in LOVE with your fun shop!
A friend of mine served these crackers at her wedding, and they were deeleeshous!! I am serious. I understand your pain…
The fact that those tie-dye rain boots don’t come in a woman’s size 7 is a crime against nature. It’s just not fair.
Looks like so much fun was had!! I love visits with friends that turn out just like this one!!
Oh what yumminess. Thank you for sharing. I wonder if I could figure out how to make these gluten free.
That’s it! I’m coming to your house! I must make those crackers asap!
Kyndale
OH MY GOD! I love that baby in the pouch–LOVE it!
Looks like you are all enjoying the weather, too!! I didn’t mention it in my blog post but guess what happened on our playdate? One kid fell in the creek, another slid down a bank and got covered in mud and…a baby’s stroller flipped over & dumped him!
But hey…Benjamin and I had fun! Hee, hee.
Enjoy the sunshine…Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
looks yummy! I will try… Thanks for sharing!
Love the little monster for Araina’s spring basket. They look like they’re having a blast with their friends. Just seeing those pictures is making me chilly! Happy St. Patty’s day party!
PS. Those crackers look divine. I’ll try them after Easter when the hubby is back on dairy…he gave it up for Lent (I try to be supportive
Please tell me what ‘half and half is’. I’ve lived in England for most of my life and now live in new Zealand . . . and I’m really intrigued as I’ve not heard of that before.
half milk and half cream…..half and half, that’s the actual name of it around here. Maybe it’s an American thing?
I am loving your monsters…and those crackers look tasty! Kids just don’t seem to feel the cold do they…especially when there is some fun to be had!
Ariana is going to be one pleased little girl; that marsupial monster is too cute.
What a fun day!! I’ve saved the recipe…thanks! I’ve wanted to make a hummus recipe with healthier ingredients that the premade hummus in the store.
Thanks for the recipes…I was recently looking for an easy hummus recipe. I am blogging about home made ketchup, have you tried that yet? You’ll never buy ketchup again after trying it.
Awesome pics. Take me back to when I was a kid. Also, is there a reason you use garbanzo beans instead of chick peas?
They are the same thing.
Yep, Ivy is right, same thing.
those girls are too cute!!! can’t wait to try those crackers.
have a happy st. patty’s!
lisa goose and binky