Babas Mediterranean Kitchen

Curried Golden Raisin Hummus

Makes fourteen 2 tbsp servings

Ingredients
– 1 tsp honey
– 1/4 cup water
– 4 tbsp golden raisins; divided
– 4 dried apricots; chopped [I prefer Sunsweet, they’re nice and soft!]
– 1 can garbanzo beans; drained and rinsed [I use reduced sodium]
– 1 tbsp + 1 tsp mild curry paste
– 1 tbsp lemon juice
– 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
– 1/4 tsp paprika
– 1 tsp kosher salt
– 1/4 cup EVOO

Directions
In a small bowl, microwave honey and water for 10 seconds. Mix together and add 3 tbsp of the raisins and all of the chopped apricots. Let the dried fruit reconstitute for about 10 minutes.

While the fruit is soaking, add the beans, curry paste, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, paprika, and salt to a food processor. Start processing and slowly drizzle in the olive oil. As everything starts to come together, add the fruit and honey water mixture. Process until smooth. [Feel free to add more water to adjust consistency to your liking.]

Once you’ve reached the desired consistency, stir in the remaining tbsp of raisins. Serve with chips, veggies, or smear it onto a sandwich. And if you didn’t eat it all in one sitting, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator 😉

Nutritional Stats
Per 2 tbsp serving

81 Calories / 5g Fat / 9g Carbs / 3g Sugar / 2g Fiber / 2g Protein

Saturday was a rainy, gross, stay inside kinda day. But we just don’t like to do that. It’s the weekend.. gotta have fun!

I started my Saturday with a workout, a hair chop, and a dress purchase. But this wasn’t just any dress purchase. My friend, bridesmaid, and college roommate announced last week that she is getting married. Next month.

Say whaaaaaaattttt?!

I know! And I’m also a bridesmaid! With all of 4 weeks to prep, she asked for the bridesmaids to wear black or silver and she didn’t care what it looked like. And I’m pleased to say that I was successful in a short amount of time! (Thank you very much White House Black Market!)

I wish I could say my night out on the town involved dressing up in my new fun dress, but sadly, it did not. It did, however, involve some delicious eats and drinks!

Breakfast
I’m still way too obsessed with the banana bread protein pancakes from Julie at Peanut Butter Fingers. They’re just my favorite pancakes and I can’t stop wanting them! I also had my Tone It Up Bombshell Spell and since it was the weekend, I topped it off with my favorite coffee. Get this. Chocolate coconut coffee. Seriously, what could be better?!

Snack
Also on my obsession list, cherries. And they were on sale last week! We stocked up.

Lunch – Outing #1
A little while back, I got a LivingSocial deal to Bang Bang Mongolian Grill. If you enjoy cooking and controlling your ingredients, this place is for you! You grab a bowl, load it up with protein, vegetables, sauces, and spices, then give it to the cook and choose your starch. They cook everything on a flat top and hand you a steaming hot bowl of deliciousness! It’s like cooking at home without having to actually cook! And without the mess.

I loaded up on salmon, shrimp, tons of veggies, zesty orange garlic sauce and went for the brown rice. It was delicious and super easy. Definitely going back soon!

Snack
Not pictured, but super delicious. Vanilla greek yogurt with Great Grains Cranberry Almond Crunch. If you’re a cereal or granola lover, this one is for you! But beware, it’s addicting! (Don’t say I didn’t warn you.)

Dinner – Outing #2
Baba’s Mediterranean Kitchen. Oh yes.

If you’re in the Baltimore area, make your way over. We started with a sampler.. hummus, baba ghanoush, spanikopita, and falafel. Nathan said it’s the best falafel he’s had since Israel. It was all amazing though. For my dinner, I got the shrimp ouzo over quinoa with a side greek salad, hummus, and pita. My only complaint is that they don’t make their own bread.. and we’re bread people. Beyond that, I would go back in a heart beat! (And the prices are awesome!)

After Dinner
Since we were with some friends, we headed over to The Wine Market; an adorable little wine shop (duh!) and bistro. The girls got some wonderful assortments of red wines (not pictured) and the boys shared 2 beers. A Tripel Karmeliet to start; an amazingly delicious Belgian tripel that pretty much can’t be topped. But why not try? They followed it up with an Ommegang Hennepin; this one is a Belgian-style Farmhouse Saison. Another winner. And while I was definitely enjoying my wine, I’m clearly much more intrigued by beer. Can you tell? 😉

Fitness
After reviewing that dinner, I’m really quite pleased that I got up for my workout Saturday morning! I hit up my Tone It Up girls for a couple of my toning faves – the Sandcastle workout and the Itty Bitty Bikini workout. Don’t let these names fool you.. it burns! Especially that total ab tone up at the end of Itty Bitty Bikini!