Hummus

A delicious dip for vegetables or spread on crackers. Nutritious, inexpensive and healthy; everything you'd love in one easy recipe!

When I first tried Hummus, I didn't know what was in it; I could taste the garlic but not the distinct taste of chickpeas which I actually despised! I read the ingredient list and was literally amazed to find chickpeas as the main ingredient!

1 can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)

1/2 cup tahini paste

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 garlic clove (fresh, minced) or more depending on your personal taste


juice of 2 medium lemons

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp cumin



1. In a food processor (or blender) puree chickpeas.

2. Add remaining ingredients. Adjust seasoning if needed, and mix.

Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.



Tahini paste: this is sesame seeds ground up, sold in a jar and can be used as a substitute for peanut butter intolerant individuals. This may be found in specialty markets with middle eastern foods, in a grocery store with international foods or organic shoppes. If you cannot find it in your local super market, ask if they can order it for you. One jar is about $4-$7 (depends on brand, type (organic, etc), location (speciality market, etc) but typically makes several batches and keeps for a long time in the refrigerator.

Butterscotch Oat Squares

An heirloom recipe over 100 years old, this was one of my first recipes when I was a budding baker. Easy to make and very delicious served warm with vanilla ice cream. One-dish recipe!

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp baking powder

2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup melted butter

1/2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven: to 375 degrees

1. Combine all ingredients in an ungreased 8x8" (or 9x9") baking pan.

2. Blend thoroughly and pat down with a fork.

3. Bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly golden brown and bubbly on the top.

Cut into squares while still warm.

Tea Biscuits

These Tea Biscuits are so easy to make, take few ingredients and depending on cost of ingredients (additions of fruits, sale prices, size you make them, etc) work out to roughly 10 cents per biscuit.

I usually make about 10 batches at a time (one customers' order every month!) but for our family, I double the recipe and have them in an airtight baggie or in the freezer.

The biscuits freeze well and can be reheated in the microwave or toaster oven if you wish.

Ingredients: (this is a single batch = 1 Dozen biscuits)

2 cups flour (white, unbleached, whole wheat, combination of any of these as you like)
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup shortening (I use Crisco in the blue box)
1 cup milk (1%, 2%, etc)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

1. Mix dry ingredients together.

2. Cut in shortening until consistency of coarse corn meal. (I don't cut it in, I use my hands because I make so many biscuits at once it's faster)

3. Add milk.

4. Mix until dough comes away from sides of bowl freely. (I do this with my hands too)

5. Turn dough out onto clean lightly floured counter or table and knead lightly for a few minutes.

6. Roll or pat (I roll out with a rolling pin) to about 1/2" thickness.

7. Cut into biscuits with cookie or biscuit cutter, I use the top of a glass or mug.

8. Place biscuits on an UNGREASED baking sheet. (they can be fairly close together because they rise up more than they spread out and they don't stick together if they touch).

9. Bake for about 12 minutes. Signs of completed baking: golden brown bottoms, hollow sound when tapped on top, no doughy middle, kitchen smells like biscuits!

10. Enjoy with your favourite toppings or dishes.


Toppings: Butter, jam, jelly, preserves, cheese...

Great with: Soup, stew, chili, as a base for strawberry shortcake...


Strawberry shortcake:
Use a plain biscuit and fruit for a personal sized strawberry shortcake delight!
Slice open your biscuit, lay the bottom of the biscuit in a bowl or on a plate. Add a small scoop of strawberries (or any fresh fruit) top with remaining biscuit, another scoop of fruit and a dollop of whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or vanilla yogourt.

Great as a dessert, snack or even breakfast!

Variations:

Bogged Down Cranberry Biscuits!
Add a small handful (about 1/3 cup) of dried sweetened cranberries (flavoured ones work well too- my personal favourite is Cranberries with Raspberry flavour).

Cravin' Raisins Biscuits! (my top selling biscuit)
Add a small handful (about 1/3 cup) Thompson Seedless Raisins and cinnamon to suit your personal taste.

Seriously Cinnamon Raisin Biscuits! (dedicated to my friend's mother who loves anything Cinnamon)
Cinnamon oil, found at the Bulk Barn, about $2-3 a small bottle, (this is a natural and artificial oil mix in a tiny bottle). Place 1/3 cup raisins in a measuring cup, add a FEW drops of oil. Stir and mix into your biscuit dough. This oil is very flavourful and a few drops goes a long way. When the biscuits baked and a few raisins were left on the tray, my friend's mother gathered them and ate them... let's just say they had some seriously cinnamon kick to them! Kneed the raisins into the dough.

Ham 'n Cheese Biscuits! (my other best selling biscuit)
Black Forest Ham slice, fresh from the deli about 1/4" thick. Old cheese (this is important for flavour when baking because milder flavoured cheeses don't tend to hold their flavour in the end product as well).
Cube the ham slice into tiny pieces (I use 1 slice of ham for a triple batch to give you an idea how far one slice goes).
Shred the cheese (you want about 1/3 of a cup).
Add the ham and cheese to your biscuits while you are kneading the dough.

Say Cheese Please!
Add about 1/3 cup of old cheese to your biscuits while kneading your dough. Optional: sprinkle a bit more cheese on top of biscuits when they are cut out on the baking sheet.

Garlic 'n Cheese Biscuits
Add about 1/3 cup of old cheese and garlic to suit your taste. Garlic powder or fresh pressed garlic are great options as well as prepared garlic from a jar. Garlic salt is not recommended. Optional garnish: Add a bit of fresh or dried parsley (this is also a great indicator if you make both the cheese and garlic 'n cheese biscuits).

Rosemary Biscuits
My favourite herb, Rosemary. Add some fresh or dried Rosemary to your biscuits (great alongside a leftover turkey soup!) Add according to your taste.

Basil~Oregano Biscuits
Great with a tomato based soup! Add fresh or dried sweet basil and oregano to suit your taste.


Biscuits are fast, easy, inexpensive and children like the easy handheld size. Fun biscuit cutters could be used to add more variety. Great for picnics, snacks, sandwiches, with a main course or on their own. Versitle and freezer friendly.