Lemon Basil Hummus & Pet Squirrels

I may wear pencil skirts, high heals, and Jcrew on a fairly regular basis but deep down, I am a boots and jeans kind of girl. I wish I could go to work in then every day & well this week I could. Thank you Florida Citrus Expo.

This was my second year attending this trade show. My favorite part of the show? (besides the jeans & boots) Geoff is there! He spends most of the day listening to the various speakers but we still get to spend meals and slow time together. 

There are a bunch of different vendors displaying various equipment for the field, chemicals, insurance, packing houses, and orange juices brands.  

Geoff's family has their own line of juice: Nobel Juice & they provided my company with coolers to pass out at our booth. It is a very tasty way to get extra traffic to come by. I drank plenty :)

Every year there are drawings for the attendees to enter in & guess what?! Geoff was the BIG winner :) 

Geoff win = I win

The prize was a ceramic grill from Cabelas :) We have had our eye on one for years but neither of us could justify spending that much cash on a grill. My parents gave us one a few years back that was their old grill. My dad fixed it up for us but it is a few years past its prime and we are so excited for an up grade. 

I was informed that the new grill would be his and the old grill would be mine for MY vegetables. Marriage is less than 10 months away & he has so much to learn :) 

Geoff was in such a great mood (even after the 2 hour process of setting the grill up, it weights like 200lbs) and he said two things that I wouldn't have ever thought to come out of his mouth:

1. "Babe come out here fast. A baby squirrel just fell out of the tree. Would you want to keep it as a pet? I can get you a cage."
2. "This is the best salad dressing I have ever had. I think you need to make this more often."  

A pet squirrel? Pig, donkey, dog or turtle? Yes. Squirrel? In a cage? Wow. First off, I was told no more pets ever and second Geoff HATES squirrels. (They eat our avocados) If you were wondering I said "no thank you".

Now for the "best salad dressing ever". I didn't measure. I didn't really pay attention on measurements. I threw some garlic, mustard, maple syrup, red wine vinegar, olive oil and S&P in a plastic jar & used my hand held blender. Now the pressure is on to go back and recreate this dressing. I didn't even use this on my salad and only tasted a drop off of the blender to make sure it was eadable :) Instead I used my Lemon Basil Hummus that I have attemped 3 times before I was in love.

Lemon, Basil Hummus

1 can chickpeas, drained & rinsed

1/4 cup basil leaves

1 clove garlic

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon water

2 tablespoons tahini

salt & pepper to taste

Combine all items in a food processor and blend until smooth. Taste & season with additional salt and pepper if necessary.

This is good. Really good. Totally worth three rounds. I have eaten it on a salad, with carrots, and with a spoon. I hope there is some left when I get home tonight or I will need to go buy more chickpeas ASAP. 

Enjoy! 

Nicole.