"j*ni p." > wrote in message
...
> I've seen a few hummus recipes in rfc and have always wanted to
> try it. Unfortunately, I'm too chicken to make something myself
> if I have no idea what it will taste like (I don't recall ever
> eating a chickpea). So today at the stupidmarket, I bought
> something called "Athenos Hummus & Pita", and gave it a try.
>
> The first thing I noticed was the smell of cumin. No problem, I
> like cumin. Then I tasted the hummus -- it was good, but it seemed
> to have a bitter and/or sour after taste that I didn't care for.
> Is that normal, or is it perhaps a product of all the various gunk
> that one finds in store bought stuff?
>

I'm a little surprised. I've always found Athenos hummus to be fluffy,
mild, and a little sweet...I buy it for my kids, because they tend not to
like the authentic versions I bring home. For the grownups, we buy it from
Whole Foods or from the little Middle Eastern shop in our town (Hummus is
one of those things that should be easy to make, but always comes out
terrible for me, no matter whose recipe I try). Usually when we buy hummus,
it's when we're buying a bunch of other mezze-type foods, so what the
heck...why not throw in a tub of hummus.

In fact, I stopped at the Middle Eastern shop today, and was pleasantly
surprised to find out that it had relocated to another spot in the same
strip mall, and is now a very attractive cafe and shop (how did I not notice
this? Oh yeah, had a baby two months ago...that'll do it!). Same
ownership, same good food, but a much nicer experience now. Bought some
nice, firm kalamata olives, some really nice French feta, and some tiny red
lentils.

I plan to try recreating a delicious lentil soup that a Turkish bakery
across town sells...it's a pureed soup...red lentils, onion, carrot, and
mint...the mint is very subtle but really makes the soup.

And now....to bed.

Chris