The Perfect Summer Meal

I don't know if you've heard, but it's kind of hot outside. Not quaint hot, like "oh, maybe I should rethink my hair choice," but crazy hot, like "gather up your elderly lest they die of heat stroke." While I am a professed fan of warm climes, I have to admit. It is stupid hot in Nashville right now.

I came home from work starving and sweaty and immediately buried my face in this.

Refreshing. If not necessarily ladylike.

I have an overwhelmingly full fridge because of my abundant CSA share this week, so fresh produce was on the menu for dinner tonight, and a lot of it. I also wanted to include some protein and the first thing that came to mind was hummus, so I whipped up a batch and it turned out to be my best hummus ever. Simple - but blog-worthy - for sure.

Creamy Lemony Hummus

1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
Juice of 1.5 large lemons (or 2 smaller ones)
1 large clove garlic, chopped
1 heaping tablespoon tahini
1-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt & pepper to taste

Put all ingredients except olive oil in a food processor and blend until combined. While machine is on, stream in oil until you get your desired smooth and creamy consistency (mine took about 2 tablespoons, but I eyeballed it and didn't measure). Taste a few times along the way to adjust salt & pepper levels. Enjoy!

This hummus is great because the extra lemon juice really gives it a bright kick, and the cayenne gives a bit of background warmth and depth of flavor. If you like it as hot as the ridiculous weather outside, feel free to add more cayenne.

I basically made this hummus as a vehicle for the jaw-droppingly good tomatoes I got from my CSA this week, because just eating slices of tomato for dinner while standing over the sink would be sad. Not that I did that, or anything. All I will say is that there was more to this tomato than is pictured below. And now there isn't.

This tomato masterpiece was a piece of toast topped with hummus, tomatoes, salt, pepper and basil. Served with a quick cucumber salad (similar to this one) and corn on the mother-freaking cob.

Out of this world good. Let's see it all close-like.

Ridiculous.

See that gritty stuff? It's SALT. And the shiny stuff? BUTTER. Man, I am going to have happy dreams tonight.

Later on after wiping the drool off my face I watched the newest episode of Covert Affairs. I wish that show was better. I love spy stuff, I love girls who kick ass, and I love Christopher Gorham most of all (Jake 2.0!!!) but it is just not doing it for me. Oh, well, it's summer. I'll watch anything in the summer.

Other things I do in the summer? Eat my weight in watermelon. This was dessert.

Goodnight! I'm off to dream about butter. And air conditioning.

Comments

[Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen]

Oh goodness, I actually have begun to refer to my midsection as my water (melon) weight...I can't get enough! And here in Texas, the new crop means they cost less than $2!!

I must say, your meal is pretty much summer-on-a-plate.

[The Actors Diet]

i need more watermelon - before it goes out of season!

[page]

i'm totally craving hummus now. melon-wise, i personally have been eating my weight in cantaloupe. the locally-grown ones just ended last week. now it's on to the watermelon!

[Ashley@TheHungryScholar]

I think corn is the symbol of summer for me. I haven't had ANY yet, so I hope I can get some soon. You have definetely tempted me.

[yummiee cupcake]

hummus and tomato - my fave!

never had the lemony one. i'll have to try adding that one next time!