Muhummara (Red Pepper and Walnut Dip)

I sadly accidentally erased my original post about this dip. 

You can see the version I started with at Epicurious. 

 Muhummara (Muhammara)

• a 7-ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained
• 2/3 cup fine fresh bread crumbs (GF crumbs or ground Corn Thins)
• 1/3 cup walnuts, toasted lightly and chopped fine
• 2 to 4 garlic cloves, minced and mashed to a paste with 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste
• 2 teaspoons pomegranate molasses*
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
• 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, 1/8 cup oil or none!
• toasted pita triangles as an accompaniment
  (GF: tortilla chips, rice crackers, veggies, etc.)

*available at Middle Eastern markets. Reduced pomegranate juice will do or agave syrup.

Mix it all up in a blender/food processor and you have it! 

If you use the oil, add that after mixing other ingredients and drizzle while it blends.

This is very tasty and bright.

Chocolate Chip Cookie "Pi"

In honor of March 14 (yes I am one day late, but I made it yesterday!), this is my "pie" for "Pi Day."
It's a bit of a stretch, I know. It's really a giant cookie in a pie plate. But I think it counts. It's round, looks like a pie, and I really don't like pie all that much anyway.

And yes, that is my Big Bang Theory calendar. (March 14 also happens to be Einstein's Birthday! How about that for the "circle" of life?! Yes, that was a double funny.)

You can find the VERY simple recipe for it here:  

http://naturalpapa.com/food/recipe/a-quick-and-easy-vegan-cookie-pie-recipe/

My notes on the recipe:

1. I made it gluten-free with Bob's Red Mill GF mix plus 1 tsp xanthan gum and extra water.
2. I used the olive oil as called for, but next time I would use canola or melted vegan butter.
3. I used half agave and half maple syrup.
4. I used half the chocolate chips called for since I was out of them and had to cut up a vegan chocolate bar.
5. I added a 1/2 cup walnuts.
6. I didn't use the coconut flakes. No one here would have liked that in this.