Uber-Garlicky, Super-Speedy Bean Dip/Spread and Os Mutantes

This is about as garlicky as I can get. It makes a superior dip, but it's great as a spread on toasted, crusty bread, as well. The ingredients and directions are so simple you'll wish you never bought store-brand dip.

If raw garlic is too much for you, roast the garlic first to cut down on the bite.

Ingredients:

1 can of beans (your choice; I used kidney beans), drained
3 tablespoons (or less, depending on your preference) of Annie's Goddess Dressing
2 very large cloves of garlic, chopped coarsely
2-3 tablespoons water (optional)

Directions:

1. In a blender or food processor, or with your immersion blender (my choice), add all the ingredients except the water and blend until smooth. You may need to add a tablespoon or two of water, depending on how thick you like your dip/spread.
2. Enjoy!



Ways to enjoy this fantastic, healthy, and easy dip/spread:

1. With chips, cut veggies, and sticks of cheese as a great party dip.
2. Spread on a whole wheat pita for a quick snack.
3. Spread on toasted whole wheat pita triangles (or on any toasted bread).
4. Mixed into tuna instead of mayo (about 2 heaping tablespoons ought to do it).
5. Spread on bread and topped with lettuce and tomato for a salad sandwich.
6. Spread on crackers and topped with sliced olives, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, or the veggie of your choice for a great appetizer.
7. Spread on a tostada, topped with cheese and baked until the cheese bubbles.
8. Heated until hot and served with rice as a different twist on refried beans.
9. Same as above, but served with hot cornbread.
10. Used as an ingredient in chili.
11. Instead of sauce on a veggie pizza.
12. Heated in a skillet with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, then stirred into freshly cooked and drained, small-cut pasta. Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley.
13. Spread on the underside of portabella mushrooms and sprinkle lightly with cheese, then grill cheese-side up.
14. Drop by spoonfulls into a deep fryer for a different version of falafel.
15. Eat it straight off the spoon. ;)

I'm sure there are a lot of other things you could do with this dip/spread. Let me know what you think.

Os Mutantes, finally

There are a lot of us food bloggers who talk about the music we play as we cook, eat, and live our lives. I haven't done it in a while, so I thought I'd share with you the music that's been making me dance around the house (and the George St. Co-op, when I'm volunteering there).

Os Mutantes is a Brazilian group that was very active in the psychedelic 1960s with their quirky brand of Tropicalia-style music. Remember that soccer commercial with those great kids? Well, the music is from Os Mutantes. Brilliant. I can't recommend it highly enough.

So, what are you listening to?