A recipe I don't even really care for...

When we got married my husband asked me to make these cookies. I was sure I had done something wrong, they weren't like cookies at all. Cookies need to be crisp and have a little crunch, these were more like little pieces of cake. But hubby assured me that they were exactly like his mom made and this is what he liked. So over the years I've made them. I don't really care for them but my husband likes them and all of my kids like them so I guess we're good.
Yesterday my youngest daughter called and asked for the recipe. A few months earlier my oldest daughter had wanted the recipe. So in the interest of putting the recipe out there so my kids can always find it, here it is.

Applesauce Raisin Cookies (or as I call them, mini-cakes)

Ingredients:

1 cup raisins
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup shortening
1 egg
1 cup chopped nuts( I never use these, hubby doesn't like nuts in his food.)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup thick, smooth applesauce

Pour boiling water over raisins to plump them, let stand for about 10 minutes, then drain. Toss with nuts and flour. Mix sugar, salt and spices. Gradually add to shortening, creaming until fluffy. Add egg and beat. Stir soda into applesauce and add to batter. Stir in raisin mixture. Drop by tablespoon onto lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes.

They really are tasty, I just can't think of them as cookies.

One of my favorite summer foods

Hummus! I had never even tried hummus until last year when I tried going vegan. I used this recipe from my friend Barb and fell in love with it. I think it's the sesame oil I really like in this recipe. It gives it that umami flavor.

I like to put some in my pita bread and then fill it up with veggies. My boys love it as a veggie dip. Now that it's hot outside we like to have cool, nutritious foods to grab when it's too hot for a cooked meal. We still don't have my husband converted to eating hummus but that's ok, there's more for the rest of us.

Here are some ideas on how to use hummus:

http://www.mysisterskitchenonline.com/2006/08/18/hummus-and-its-uses/

http://sabra.com/