Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Who is wearing green tomorrow? Although I’m not an ounce of Irish, I still love St. Patty’s Day! It is a sign that winter is on its way out the door, the days are getting longer, and I love having an excuse to eat green food (nerd alert).

As a child, my mother always used to tell me, “The greener the vegetable, the better for you!” This little piece of advice has followed me all the way to college. I make sure to eat my fair share of fruits and veggies even if that means sneaking it in to my everyday snacks!

One of my favorite go-to snacks is a Middle Eastern spread called hummus. Traditional hummus is made by blending together cooked chickpeas (garbanzo beans), tahani, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. It is commonly served on pita, with raw veggies, or paired with grilled fish. High in iron and vitamin C and a great source of protein and dietary fiber, hummus makes an extremely healthy party snack!

Kissed by a leprechaun, my avocado hummus is sure to be hit at any St. Patty’s day get together. All you need are a few simple ingredients and a small food processor!

Homemade Avocado Hummus

Ingredients
-2 ripe avocados
-1 can of garbanzo beans, rinsed
-2 cloves of garlic
-Juice from half of a lime
-1/2T extra virgin olive oil
-1/2t sea salt

Directions:
In a small food processor mix together all ingredients for 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth. You will probably have to stop and scrape the sides a few times. Serve with tortilla chips and raw vegetables!

Don’t let your hummus go to waste! If you have leftovers spread it on toasted bread or use it in place of mayonnaise on a deli sandwich!

What are your plans for St. Patrick’s Day?