Roasted Beet Hummus

This recipe adds a nice twist to traditional hummus. It is very easy to make as well. I used my Tortilla Chip recipe to dip it with, but you can use whatever you have (pita, naan, chips, etc...) This hummus recipe comes from my old college roommate and Master Chef Canada Alum, Andrew Al-Khouri. Follow him on twitter @zataartheory. The idea to make beet hummus came from my friend Laura in PEI. 


RECIPE:
3 cups     Chick Peas
2             Beets
3             Lemons (juiced)
3 cloves  Garlic
1 cup      Tahini
1/2 cup    Water
Salt


METHOD:
- Peel the beets and cut them into smaller pieces. Brush with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for about 30 mins at 425 until tender.

- While beets are roasting, rinse then chick peas well and then bring them to a boil. Once the water is boiling, drain them and add them to the food processor. Warming them up makes for a smoother hummus.

- Puree all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Adjust seasoning with salt and it is too thick, add more water.

*** Wearing gloves when working with beets will keep your hands clean.

Renovations

BEFORE

AFTER

- Painting

- Landscaping (removed old rose bush in middle of lawn and re-sodded)

- Pruning of trees

- Replaced facia

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BEFORE

AFTER

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BEFORE

AFTER

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BEFORE

AFTER

- New lights

- New door

- Painting

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BEFORE

AFTER

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BEFORE

AFTER

- Painting

- New wiring

- Installed a hot tub

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BEFORE

AFTER

- Painting

- New light

- New trim

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BEFORE

 AFTER

- New door

- New facia

- Replaced framing around door

- Replaced trim

- Painting of trim and siding

2013 Year in Review

This past year was pretty exciting for me. Here is a quick recap of what I have been up to. 

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Some fun winter activities included:

Ice Climbing in Banff

Playing hockey on Lake Louise

Tilly took me dog sledding in Canmore for my birthday

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In April, Tilly and I took a quick trip to Edmonton where my awesome friends Jody and Jill spoiled us for a day.

Jill is a marine biologist.

She hooked us up and Tilly and I got to hold a penguin!

  

If that wasn't enough, after the penguin visit, we bolted over to the rink to watch an Oilers game that her husband hooked us up with. Pretty awesome people those two are.

 

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 I upgraded my camera this year and continue to love the fascinating art of photography. It's a great hobby and I am slowly improving a little bit every year. I've definitely come a long way, but I have much more to learn.

Some of my favourite shots from the year are:

 My favourite photo of the year

 

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I played a few shows to packed audiences

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Tilly and I went to Kelowna in May for the wedding of her friends Ryan and Jill.

We had a great dinner at a winery in Penticton

In August, Tilly's friend's Meghan and Rodney got married in Kananaskis.

I played the fiddle at their wedding and Tilly made their wedding cake.

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 This summer I made a surprise visit home to Cape Breton while my parents were in Europe and did a few jobs around the house before they got home.

While I was there, I got to attend a birthday party for this lovely lady who turned 100!

I gave my niece some piano lessons

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I kept my food blog going, although I didn't post as much as I would like to. Hopefully I'll do more in 2014. 

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In October my friends from London, Lauren and Paul, came for a visit.

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On November 24th, my sister Lindsay gave birth to this beast of a son. Ryden Joseph McNeil will be playing in the NHL in about 20 years. I'll be the proud Godfather in the stands cheering him on.

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In December, Tilly and I, along with two other couples, Jeff & Tosha, and Brandon & Nicole went to Las Vegas for a little holiday.

This is Tilly and I at the Bellagio, 20 minutes after we robbed it with George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

We ate at lots of great restaurants and went to see Shania Twain and two Cirque de Soleil shows (Zarkana and O).

Tilly at the Bellagio

The Bellagio Christmas Tree 

Tilly and I stayed an extra few days and drove to the Grand Canyon. It's pretty impressive.

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This biggest news of the year for me was that in December, I bought my first house. It's an older home that needs some renos which are already well underway. It's fun to be working on my own house for a change instead of someone else's. Stay tuned for updated pictures as I renovate it.

That's it! Happy New Year. I hope 2014 brings you health and happiness.