Everyone who comes to our house for dinner, has tried Elie's hummus.  It might even be better than his mom's, but you didn't hear me say that...

• 1 bag garbanzo beans

• 1 teaspoon and 1 Tablespoon baking soda

• 2-3 minced garlic cloves

• 1/2-3/4 cup tahini

• 1/3 cup lemon or lime juice

• 3/4 teaspoon salt

1. Put beans in a bowl and sprinkle 1 tablespoon baking soda on top.  Boil water and then pour it over the beans.  Let sit overnight.

2. The next day, drain the beans.  Put them in a deep cooking pot, add enough water to cover the top of the beans, and let boil.  After it boils, add one heaping teaspoon of baking soda.  When it foams, stir and reduce the heat to low, with pot slightly covered about 20 minutes.  Stir periodically to keep from overflowing.

3. Drain, rinse beans.  Put beans in blender adding a little water to get it going.  Blend until smooth.  Take 2 cups of the blended beans out, the rest may be frozen for later use. 

4. Add the tahini, minced garlic, lemon juice, and salt to the beans and mix by hand until smooth and creamy.  Present in a bowl or plate and garnish with a little olive oil, parsley, or even paprika around the edges.

ENJOY!