We love peanuts in our home so I was a tad excited when the Peanut Bureau of Canada invited me to a cookout lunch at the Evergreen Brickworks. They shared some tidbits on the health benefits of eating peanuts as well as a few recipe ideas for a family summer cookout.
When you have kids it can seem as though peanut allergies are rampant with the younger set but the number is much lower than I thought, less than 10% I believe. I don’t begrudge the strict no nut policy in many of the public places we visit as the severity of the reaction for some can be deadly. We are quite fortunate that no one in our family has a peanut allergy so we enjoy our fair share of nut related food dishes at home.
At the Peanut Bureau cookout lunch they shared some delicious Asian Chicken and Veggie Wrap sandwiches using peanut butter and no cookout would be complete without s’mores. I love the idea of using peanut butter cups instead of just chocolate. I’ll be trying those on the barbecue this summer.
Of course the Peanut Butter Hummus with veggies was my favourite. The kids love hummus but substituting tahini for peanut butter made a deliciously subtle taste change, one I loved. Add in some cayenne pepper for a little heat and I found a new favourite snack for my kids in the backyard. The best part about this Peanut Butter Hummus recipe, besides it being a taste success, is how easy it is to make. Just toss everything in a blender and go.
Ingredients:
1 can (19 oz (540 mL)) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup (60 mL) hot water
1/4 cup (60 mL) peanut butter
1/4 cup (60 mL) lemon juice
1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground cumin
1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
Pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
Serve with: Veggies such as carrots, celery, cucumber, red pepper and crackers. I sliced a bagel into little rounds making perfect bread to dip.
Directions:
Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Whirl until smooth. Serve with veggies and crackers.
Tip: If a thinner hummus is preferred, add additional water or lemon juice to taste.
Serves: Makes 2 cups (500 mL)
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Recipe reprinted with permission from the Peanut Bureau of Canada
Fantastic. My son and his girlfriend are always competing with each other by making healthy recipes, but her Ethiopian grandmother’s recipes always win hands-down. I’m going to slip him these ones and we’ll see if she’s impressed 😉
Oh I would love to hear about those recipes Alison. I bet they are mighty good.