This morning we awoke to....SNOW!  I shouldn't be surprised since I grew up along the Wasatch mountain range, but when you live in the sunny Southwest for almost 10 years you kind of forget what cold is.  The kids were so excited!  It was all I could do to keep them in the house and dry before I dropped my 2nd grader and kindergartner off at school.  Back at home again my 2 year old sat with her face glued to the window and watched as the slushy rain turned to little balls of hail then to huge fluffy snow flakes.  It's only October!  I needed something toasty and since we just carved pumpkins last night ---> 

This is my kids favorite way to eat lunch.  Throw some food on a platter: pick, dip and eat!  I usually make this simple rosemary hummus to go along with the veggies and pita chips.  The fruit and cheese are just to round things out!Rosemary Hummus:1 can garbanzo beans (or any white beans you like), drained and rinsed1 tbsp dried rosemary or 2-4 fresh rosemary sprigs, leafs stripped1 clove garlic1-2 tbsp extra virgin olive oilsalt and pepper to tastePut everything but olive oil in food processor and blend for a minute.  Then add oil a little at a time, blending as you go until everything is incorporated.  Salt and pepper.  To kick it up a notch, use crushed red pepper flakes instead of black pepper. That's it!  Serve with sliced celery, carrots, bell peppers, pita chips or tortilla chips.* Beans kind of have it all.  Fiber, check.  Protein, check. Iron, vitamin B, antioxidants and other trace minerals.  Check.  Remember that obnoxious song you used to sing when you were a kid.  "Beans, beans, the magical fruit the more you eat. . ."  You probably know the rest, but as obnoxious as that song was it's remarkably accurate :) It's true that the more beans you eat "the better you feel."