Apple Cinnamon Raisin Steal Cut Oats - Slow Cooker Style

A new friend of mine (who is awesome btw) and I had just gotten our butts handed to us in a yoga sculpt class and decide to walk over to Trader Joe's to grab a few groceries. As we walked over she was telling me how she was somewhere and people were talking and she was zoning.. the next thing she hears is "it tastes like pie", this immediately grabbed her attention (see why I like her) and she quickly listened in and wrote down the recipe that was being shared. Who doesn't love something that's healthy and tastes like pie?!

I made this today and yes, it taste like apple pie but better. It's not too sweet and if you add some yogurt it gets a luscious creamy consistency. The original recipe calls for sugar which we both agree is unnecessary.

This recipe makes a TON. Cut in half if you're not sure you can live on steal cut oats for a couple of weeks or, freeze half the batch and leave the other half in the fridge for breakfast each morning. Thanks go Hayley and her "things that taste like pie radar".

2 cups uncooked steal cut oats
6 cups water
2 granny smith apples, diced
1 cup raisins
1 T cinnamon and a few shakes more
1T vanilla
Couple of shakes of nutmeg (optional)

Place all ingredients into slow cooker and cook about 4 - 6 hours; stir every once in awhile.

Low Fat Homemade Hummus

I've screwed around with my hummus recipe for a couple of years and finally decided to post it.

I recently modified the recipe to make it low fat; although the olive oil and sesame oil is a good fat, I feel the quantity in most recipes is a bit excessive and not needed to make a great hummus.

The key to smooth hummus - heat your chickpeas and blend in food processor while still warm.

3 cloves garlic
3 cups of cooked Chickpeas, or 2 cans - rinsed, drained and heated
1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 T Tahini
1 T Olive Oil
1/4 cup cooking liquid
1/4 warm water - give or take, add slowly
1 T Cumin - I like cumin, add slowly and taste if you're not sure
1 tsp Sea Salt - add more little by little if needed

Heat chickpeas in liquid, peel garlic and whiz in food processor until minced. Drain chickpeas and save liquid. Add chickpeas to processor and blend, add all ingredients and blend until smooth. Add warm water little by little to thin out hummus - Enjoy.