homemade roasted red pepper hummus recipe | writes4food.com

Low-fat red pepper hummus.

In this lower-fat hummus recipe, I’ve added nonfat Greek yogurt to add tang and smooth texture. In place of tahini, I’ve used a splash of toasted sesame oil—so you get all that bold sesame flavor with less fat. Get the recipe on writes4food.com!

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sweet and spicy red pepper jam recipe | writes4food.com

Sweet-spicy red bell pepper jam.

What to do with the crop of red bell peppers from the garden or farmers’ market? Make jam, of course! Sweet and a bit spicy (you can up the spice level to suit your taste), this is the perfect accompaniment to a salty cheese like Manchego. Inspired by a dish we had on vacation earlier this year. Get the recipe on writes4food.com!

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homemade sweet and salty trail mix recipe | writes4food.com

Sweet and salty trail mix.

In advance of National Trail Mix Day on August 31 (who knew that was a *thing*?), here’s my favorite homemade trail mix recipe. My ideal mix is a salty-sweet combo with mostly healthy stuff (whole grain cereal, unsalted nuts, raisins) plus some Reese’s Pieces. I’ll be packing this along on our next road trip. Let my trail mix recipe inspire you to try your own combination: see it on writes4food.com!

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Fun ingredient of the week: figs.

Please pardon a little garden-success boasting here, but you have to see these figs! We’ve discovered how easy and rewarding it is to grow figs: the tree itself is a beautiful accent on the patio, and just last week it exploded with dozens of fat, ripe fruits. Figs, meet your new BFF: prosciutto. Get inspired to try growing a fig, and get a simple recipe for figs and prosciutto!

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Awesome summer corn recipes.

Around here, we’re knee-deep in corn season, and these hot days are producing fat, juicy, sweet ears ripe for the picking. I’m a corn-on-the-cob girl all day long, but sometimes I want to enjoy it in different ways, raw or cooked. Here’s a roundup of my favorite corn recipes, just right for summer. Enjoy!

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homemade spiced cherry tomato jam recipe | writes4food.com

Spiced cherry tomato jam.

You may ask yourself, “tomato jam?” And I say, “yes! Tomato jam!!!” Fantastic with sharp cheddar and chevre on a cheese board. This excellent Spiced Tomato Jam recipe is a gateway to both jam-making and home canning: It yields a small batch, cooked without pectin, that’s easy to manage if you want to give canning a try. (Freezes well, too.) Get the recipe!

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homemade tabbouleh salad recipe | writes4food.com

Easy tabbouleh salad.

Pack-able, healthy lunch option; easy afternoon snack; part of a festive array of appetizers: Tabbouleh — that Middle Eastern salad of cracked wheat, herbs and vegetables — is a rock star. You know you have all this stuff in your fridge (OK, maybe not the cracked wheat, but we can remedy this). Get this easy recipe for homemade tabbouleh!

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healthy hummus-guacamole dip recipe | writes4food.com

Fresh chickpea (or edamame) guacamole.

Have you ever spotted fresh garbanzo beans in your grocery or food shop? They’re amazing: bright and green and full of flavor, funny wrinkly little beans tucked into puffy green shells. When I spotted fresh garbanzos …

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Best build-your-own party snack mix | writes4food.com

Make your own party snack mix.

It’s Super Bowl Week, which means I’m heading to the grocery to stock up on ingredients for my very favorite homemade snack mix. C’mon, people: Forget the bagged stuff. This better DIY version lets you include whatever salty snacks you want, with an easy garlicky, salty, buttery seasoning. Get the recipe!

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