Hummusgirl's Blog

I hate to say, but it’s true.  I’m still addicted to hummus, but felt the need today to go and buy store bought hummus (actually it was restaurant hummus- from Oasis).  I mean I’ve had their hummus before and loved it, but this was the first time that I actually YEARNED for it and DREADED making my hummus.  That doesn’t usually happen! And you know what? Though I get food from other places all the time, I really REALLY just didn’t want to be addicted to hummus today!  I mean, I eat it a lot less than I did a year or two ago, but I feel like I’m losing apart of cooking self to other foods!   

I mean, I have a weakness for potato chips (which would be good with hummus!) now and different types of ethnic food and I don’t even cook everyday anymore!  Is that a sign that I’m becoming a corporate foodie?  I don’t buy at Costco (although I did look around there once- WOW!) or Walmart or anything, and I still like going to farms and Whole Foods is just sooo perfect.  I guess I just fear that once I go to culinary school I’ll cook all these fast food items and deprive myself of vegetarian cooking forever.  Will my myth be a fact some day? I feel it might.

P.S. Found out that my darling concoction tastes pretty good on corn and baked potato instead of butter and/or sour cream.  Healthier too!

Yeah I can’t get enough of hummus.  So because I’m a hummus addict at this point, I decided to do the comedy open mike deed about it.  The following is the basic gyst of what I said: 

I have a confession to make.  For the past 4 years I have been a drug addict.  Now it’s becoming a pretty common drug in America and has been common in the Middle East for many centuries. Yes, I am addicted to hummus.  I had my last hit less than 24 hours ago.  I need to get it out you see because I know you’ll be supportive. I need to just say it.  Ok *breath* I am a hummus addict.  I really didn’t think it would happen to me.  Hummus addictions happen to Middle Easterners or really hippie/bohemian people.  They don’t happen to innocent Quaker girls.  I really didn’t think it was serious when I grabbed for the chickpeas every day.  I just told myself they had protein, iron, and tons of other nutrients that are really quite good for me. 

But then I learned that chickpeas when eaten in large quantities can cause something called ergoism.  The symptoms of this disease are spasms, convulsions, and even mental illness.  Wow, I thought, why is this happening to me? I was already pretty messed up before I discovered hummus and chickpeas; why didn’t I just eat more fruit or vegetables or milk?  Why did I become addicted to the one substance that could become my demise?

I thought I was safe to fall for a bean. If I was addicted to lentils, black beans, pinto beans, or even fava beans it would be ok because they’re not as Americanized as hummus. But chickpeas are the devil I tell you! Because once you turn them into that creamy spread, all hell breaks loose.  Thank you.

Well I’m not perfect. I learned that much yesterday.  I planned a progressive dinner in my neighborhood (we have a course at each neighbor’s home), and so wanted to do appetizers so I could make hummus, but I should have planned to make another dish, like pesto or salsa because hummus is just a little too imperfect on its own.  I did make two different kinds of hummus- peanut butter and regular, but I just don’t think it was enough.  Plus I’m going to culinary school and need to do a bit more to impress the locals!  But it’s all well.  My hummus was received approvingly and my Mom even thought up our grape leaves and sugar snap peas to eat it with.  Better luck next time…

P.S. My experimental hummus was made with peanut butter instead of tahini.  People liked it, but I think I’m addicted to the spicy variety.  Maybe next time I make it I’ll add spices.  Also, I need to make black bean hummus one of these days because I had some at whole foods last week and it was really spicy and good!