Hummus and Pita Chips

I love making this on hot summer days.  Cut up some fresh veggies and use the hummus as a dip for a quick  and healthy lunch or make some homemade pita chips and serve it as a snack.

Hummus
Ingredients:
2 cans Chickpeas, drained and rinsed well
2-3 cloves Fresh Garlic
1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (use the good stuff)
1 cup Water
1 tsp Salt
1 Lemon, Juiced  (approx 2 1/2 tbl)
1/3 cup Tahini, this is seseme paste and can be found in the Ethnic Isle at the grocery store.

Just put everything into your Ninja or food processor and puree until smooth.  Add more or less garlic depending on your taste, keep in mind that the garlic will get stronger as it sits.

Pita Chips
Ingredients:

1 pkg  Fresh Pita
1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4 Cloves of Garlic, Smashed
Salt
Pepper

Over low heat place smashed garlic and olive oil in a little pan.  Gently heat until you see little bubbles rising from the garlic.  Turn off heat and let it sit for at least 15 minutes or overnight in your fridge. You have just made garlic flavored oil.  Scoop out garlic and reserve oil.

Cut pita into wedges, place in large bowl.  If your pitas are "Pocket Pitas" cut the two halves of the pita apart first (like a hamburger bun).  Drizzle lightly with garlic oil.  Toss until it is well distributed.

Spread out into a single layer on a baking sheet, use 2 pans if nessisary.  Sprinkle with salt and fresh black pepper.

Bake at 300' for about 20 minutes or until dry, crunchy and slightly browned. 

Notes:
Fresh hummus will last about 5 days in the fridge.

The traditional garinish on hummus is sweet paprika (AKA Hungarian Paprika) and Olive Oil

Feel free to add roasted peppers, artichokes, olives or any other ingredient you like in your hummus.

Hummus makes a great spread on a wrap or as a sub for mayo on a sandwich.

You know those little silica packs that they put in new shoe boxes and such, you know the ones labeled "Do Not Eat!", tape one of those to the top of your Tupperware container.  The pack will absorb moisture and keep you chips from going stale.  Just be careful not to EAT IT!