Humus and Tzaziki Dip

Necessary accompaniments with any good pita bread or with falafel or as a 'spread' for a pita sandwich...both are easy and best made 'from scratch'.

Humus

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chick peas soaked overnight or 1 cup canned chick peas
• 2/3 cup tahini paste (ground sesame - paste)
• juice of 2 lemons
• 2 cloves garlic peeled and crushed
• fresh ground black pepper

Drain the chick peas and put them into a saucepan. Cover with fresh water and boil simmering for about 2 hours or until they are soft. If using canned chick peas omit the first step. Put into a food processor and add the rest ...mix til a soft paste forms. Add salt to taste. (I hate to add salt but it DOES bring out the lemon and garlic so if you want to keep it low sodium...use a salt substitute)

Tzaziki

(For this use, or used as as a dip, the sauce is left creamy and simple with garlic and lemon. If you wish to use Tzaziki as a side dish then chopped or shredded cucumber is often added.)

Ingredients:

1 cup plain yogurt (uhm...not vanilla flavoured...real good, honest, simple, plain creamy yogurt)
2 garlic cloves minced
2 tsp lemon juice (fresh if possible)
1/4 cup chopped or shredded cucumber (optional - use if a side dish/omit for dip)
salt to taste
dash of fresh ground pepper

Whip ingredients together and let sit in fridge 1/2 hour to let flavours mingle. You can add a wee bit of finely minced onion as well but a simple plain dip is best.