Best Damn Queso Dip You'll Ever Eat (minus the queso)

I am back with a new recipe! I hope those of you that have been following me(all four of you) tried the OMG Pie. If you haven't yet, I suggest you do. If you don't have a graham cracker pie crust, you can just as easily refridgerate it and eat it as a chocolate moose. Top with some berries and you will have an elegant dessert that was easy to make and a healthier alternative.

Now for my new recipe. This is truly a fabulous dip that is so healthy for you that it should taste like crap, but it doesn't. Make this for your next soiree and your lactose intolerant friends will love you for it. Actually everyone will love you for it. The last thing anyone wants is a lactose intolerant party goer, getting all liqoured up and digging into a BIG BOWL of Queso Dip. ewwww.

In this recipe I introduce 2 new ingrediants, Tahini and Nutritional Yeast Flakes.

Tahini-it is a paste made from sesame seeds. Its used in Middle Eastern cooking, but no worries. You should be able to find it in your local grocery store.

Nutrional Yeast Flakes - A non-active yeast that is an excellent source of protein that is rich in amino acids and vitamins, especially B complex. It comes in flakes and you will find it most definitely at Whole Foods(the "MAN" of healthy food stores-shop there only if you can not find it anywhere else!). It will have a "Cheesy" smell. DO NOT mistake it for Brewers yeast, which is completey different in makeup and flavor.

With that let's get started and go get your food processor!

B.D.Q.D.Y.E.E.(minus the queso)

1 can (15 oz.) white beans   (Cannelli are good. Garbanzo beans will give it a "hummus"taste)
1/2 cup roasted red peppers (the jar peppers are just as good, no need to make your own)
7 Tablespoons Nutrional Yeast Flakes
3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice ( 1 1/2 lemons will give you what you need)
3 tablespoons of Tahini
1/2 teaspoon of prepared yellow mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Salsa (mild or hot, it's up to you amigas!)

Combine all ingredients,except the Salsa, in the food processor with the S blade and process until completely smooth. One hint if you are new to your food processor...when all the ingridients are in, PULSE a couple times before you hit the ON button. After a minute or two of running, stop and scrape down the sides and hit ON again until the mixture is smooth. Tranfer to a container, stir in 1/4 cup of the Salsa and chill. Serve with chips or cut up vegetables. To be honest, when I make this for Quinn and I, we never chill it...it goes straight from the food processor to our Dip bowl. Let me know if you have the same experience!

 In my words....Last Saturday I had an opportunity to attend a Film Festival that highlited the future of  food, Monsanto and GMOs. They showed several films, one which I had already seen...Food, Inc
http://www.foodincmovie.com/  I can't stress strongly enough that each of you should spend and hour of your time to watch this movie. But the movie is not what I wanted to talk about(it speaks for itself). What I really wanted to talk about is the audience. The audience for the day consisted  90%  of women. Women that had grey hair, or nearly grey hair. Women that the average age seemed to hover around 60. Women that no more looked like "aging Hippies" then you or I . And yet there they were, vocal and angry about the future of our food. Then I thought about Code Pink http://www.codepink4peace.org/ , again women heading into what should be the "Twightlite" of their lives, organizing and PROTESTING for peace.  If you can find it, watch the documentary on Sister Jane Kelly http://www.wmm.com/filmCatalog/pages/c700.shtml and how she took on the Catholic Church while helping the poor and needy in Society.
What they all have in common is Women speaking out. Speaking out for peace, speaking  out for justice and speaking out for the health and safety of our food. Women that should be happy just to put on their  Red Hats and join the other Red Hatted ladies for lunch. Isn't that what we are suppose to do when we turn 50?
Insted what I am seeing is a new movement, a movement by women that will not "go quietly into that good night". Women that are saying "Fuck you" to Red Hats, YaYa Clubs, AARP and being happy just to babysit the grandchildren. More then any other age group, male or female, these women are standing up and voicing their opinions and they will be heard! All of us are wise to follow their example...and the great part is that you don't have to be in your 50, 60, or 70's. You don't even have to be a woman for God's sake! Find a cause and speak up, the quality of our lives and the lives of our kids depend on it.