Please tell me that I am not the only one who’s pants are getting a little bit harder to button right now? Between all the holiday parties and batches of Christmas cookies, it is easy to snack my way into an extra 5 lbs of cuteness in no time. That is why I always try to have a variety of healthy yet tasty treats prepared for when the urge to nosh strikes me. My cravings are usually late at night and unlike my guys I don’t crave sweets but rich salty treats with a crunch.
This friends is where olives come to my rescue, they are my go to guilt free treat. While my cousins were always sneaking desserts during the holidays when we were kids, you would find me stuffing my cheeks with olives like a chipmunk. To this day, my hand is smacked away from the olive appetizers by my mom or dad because I will end up eating every last one. Fortunately, my boys love olives just as much as I do. Then again, what kid can resist popping crunchy olives from their fingertips?
Although I am right there with my boys it is always fun to see what other recipes we can come up with using olives. One of my favorite late night snacks is hummus, so I decided to toss some olives into my blender this year along with my usual hummus ingredients. All I can tell you guys it that my late night savory cravings have reached a completely new level of bliss.
Rich spicy hummus with the added tang from crunchy pimento stuffed manzanilla green olives…shivers of joy just went down my spine. Oh and this hummus recipe has been Emmy approved! My sister counts herself as a hummus critic of the highest order. Guess what she’s getting for Christmas.
What about you guys y’all need some delicious olives to snack on and play with as well right. Thanks to the Musco Family Olive Co. one of you guys will be getting a sampler box of their Fresh Cured Olives & Reduced Salt Olives complete with a can opener and cute olive picks.
Along with how dedicated they are to produce one of the healthiest {yummiest} foods another aspect that I appreciate about Musco is how conscious they are of their environmental footprint. Check out the Musco Family’s video on their award-winning sustainability initiatives.
In the meantime there’s a bowl of savory goodness with my name on it.
Hugs and Kisses,
Shari-Tickled Red
PS: All opinions are my own and thank you to Musco Family Olive Co. for letting us be creative with their olives.
Musco Family Olive Co. Giveaway~Entry Rules
1. Tell us your favorite way to enjoy or serve olives during the holidays!
2. Pop on over to Early California Olives & Pearls Olives Facebook pages to see what fun recipes and tips they have for enjoying olives.
That’s it. Super simple and fun.
Giveaway open to US residents only and ends 12-23-12 at 11pm EST.
Green Olive & Pimento Hummus
Ingredients
1 can of chickpeas/garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 jar (5.75 oz) pimento stuffed green olives, drained
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup tahini
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon salt
pinch of cracked black pepper to taste
Directions
Put 1/2 of the lemon juice and all the ingredients into the blender minus the chickpeas, blend for 5 seconds. Add the chickpeas and blend on high approx. 10-15 seconds until the mix is similar in consistency to sour cream, only granular. Blend in the remaining lemon juice to taste. If the dip is too thick but you don’t want to add more lemon juice, add a little water slowly and blend until it reaches the correct consistency.
Transfer to a serving bowl, cover and refrigerate for a few hours before serving. It can be eaten immediately, but it will become more flavorful the longer it is left to chill.
Drizzle a little olive oil over the top and add a garnish with olives or parsley before serving. Best served with pita wedges or flat breads.
Enjoy!
Shari/Red
Hi there guys I'm Shari, but y'all can call me Red.
Southern nut. Perpetual optimist. Food adventurer. Creative dabbler. Lovin' an impromptu surf life with my darlin' & two groms. We're so glad you stopped by! 
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Stuffed with blue cheese and garnishing a martini!
Favorite way to enjoy, straight out of the jar on the tips of my fingers! Favorite way to serve, would be on my mother in laws china, straight out of the jar. Olives are just perfect, there is no need to do anything with them…just serve them up!
This looks so good! I love olives!
Oh I’ve been waiting for this recipe. Olives are my favorite and I’ll eat them any which way I can. I do love a good tapenade on crostini, and I’ve had an olive and cheese spread over little crackers that is amazing. Or of course, I’ll just take a whole bowl :)
I love olives as-is, although the finger trick brings back memories I may just have to share with Weston now ;)
On a tray with salami and cheeses (or on my fingers)
I really like to just munch on them during the holidays. Your recipe sounds fantastic and your son, of course, is a cutie!
With smoked salmon and cheese
in martinis!! yum!
I like them plain.
Totally my kind of hummus. We love olives around here!
I love olives in a salad or baked into a cheesy bread. Seriously… olives and cheese? Nothing better!
Your recipe got my mouth watering! My favorite way to use olives during holidays is in my Spinach and Olive tart (phyllo dough, spinach, boiled eggs, olives, salt, pepper, etc).
I love olives as part of a cheese plate!
martinis of course!
I like to serve olives that have been marinated with cubed feta cheese.
Love hummus and love green olives, so I must try this asap!
I like making them in a tapenade
Your hummus looks so good!! what a great idea to add olives!!
I loooove olives! I even love the juice, yes I’m that kind of weird. Great idea to add olives to hummus.