Hummus is a classic Middle Eastern recipe, which means there are many opinions and variations. In the Middle East, hummus is usually prepared with tahini (sesame seed butter), but in Greece, olive oil is used. I find raw olive oil upsets my stomach, so I opt for canola oil. It'll be delicious no matter how you prepare it! Serve with pita chips, a veggie platter, or use as a spread for sandwiches in lieu of mayonnaise. Yum!
Hummus
Ingredients:
2 (15.5 ounce) cans chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup bottled minced garlic (or 8 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped)
1/4 cup canola oil, olive oil, or tahini
1/4 cup lemon juice
Directions:
Combine chickpeas, water, garlic, oil or tahini, and lemon juice in blender or food processor, and puree until smooth.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Throwback Thursday: Flamenco-Gypsy Fusion!
We're already hard at work on new choreography for the new year, and right now, our focus is on enhancing our Spanish shows. We're developing some exciting new choreo that includes more flamenco footwork, more Spanish gypsy skirt, and more stick work! For now, we're keeping what we're working on under wraps. :) In the meantime, here's a throwback to one of our earliest performances as Desert Gypsies, back in August 2011.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Happy New Year 2015!
We're delighted to ring in a new year! -- but not because Desert Gypsies didn't enjoy 2014. We had the opportunity to share the magic of music and dance with old friends, and make some new friends, too.
We had the exceedingly good fortune to celebrate several holidays -- Mardi Gras, Father's Day, Halloween, and Christmas -- with our friends at Destinations Oakey, Atria Seville, and North Las Vegas Care Center. We also had the privilege of performing many themed shows this year, ranging from gypsy-flamenco to Egyptian to Greek.
In the meantime, Desert Gypsies wants to extend to all our friends our deepest thanks. We have enjoyed every moment of sharing the magic of music and dance with you this year! -- and we look forward to new adventures with you in 2015.
A special shout-out to our friend Shane Fairburn, who took the picture of Alexa and Angela at the Las Vegas Renaissance Faire (in the purple skirts on the outdoor stage). We think you'll agree he's an amazing photographer!
We had the exceedingly good fortune to celebrate several holidays -- Mardi Gras, Father's Day, Halloween, and Christmas -- with our friends at Destinations Oakey, Atria Seville, and North Las Vegas Care Center. We also had the privilege of performing many themed shows this year, ranging from gypsy-flamenco to Egyptian to Greek.
In the meantime, Desert Gypsies wants to extend to all our friends our deepest thanks. We have enjoyed every moment of sharing the magic of music and dance with you this year! -- and we look forward to new adventures with you in 2015.
A special shout-out to our friend Shane Fairburn, who took the picture of Alexa and Angela at the Las Vegas Renaissance Faire (in the purple skirts on the outdoor stage). We think you'll agree he's an amazing photographer!
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| Desert Gypsies 2014 |
Thursday, December 25, 2014
North Las Vegas Care Center: Celebrating the Season!
Merry Christmas! We celebrated the season in style with our friends at North Las Vegas Care Center this past Friday! We not only had a wonderful time performing, but we had a terrific time dancing with everyone afterward. Thank you! -- and we're looking forward to seeing you again soon!
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"Christmas Celebration!" North Las Vegas Care Center December 2014 |
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Throwback Thursday: Silver Hills!
As we near the end of the calendar year, I find myself thinking ahead to my plans and goals for the upcoming year. I've been reflecting on the many performances we were fortunate to enjoy this year, from several Greek-themed shows and an Egyptian show at Atria Seville, to our holiday shows for Mardi Gras and Halloween at Destinations Oakey, to PirateFest, Ren Faire, and the Las Vegas Belly Dance Intensive.
All that reminiscing has me both looking forward to celebrating the joy and magic of Middle Eastern dance next year! -- and thinking back to the many, many wonderful shows we've enjoyed. Today, I'd like to share with you some pictures from my very first show, which was a volunteer show at Silver Hills Care Center.
In some ways, I consider this a run-through for my first "real" show, which was a year later, at Atria Sutton. I say this because, although I'd stopped by a few weeks in advance, when I arrived at Silver Hills, no one was expecting me! (In contrast, when I arrived at Atria Sutton, they had arranged the common area for our performance, and had a sign out in the lobby to direct residents to our show.)
Anyway, although they'd forgotten about me, the staff at Silver Hills found a space for me to perform and rounded up an audience. I put on my music and started to dance...and, as they say, the rest is history.
So, for a real throwback this Thursday...
All that reminiscing has me both looking forward to celebrating the joy and magic of Middle Eastern dance next year! -- and thinking back to the many, many wonderful shows we've enjoyed. Today, I'd like to share with you some pictures from my very first show, which was a volunteer show at Silver Hills Care Center.
In some ways, I consider this a run-through for my first "real" show, which was a year later, at Atria Sutton. I say this because, although I'd stopped by a few weeks in advance, when I arrived at Silver Hills, no one was expecting me! (In contrast, when I arrived at Atria Sutton, they had arranged the common area for our performance, and had a sign out in the lobby to direct residents to our show.)
Anyway, although they'd forgotten about me, the staff at Silver Hills found a space for me to perform and rounded up an audience. I put on my music and started to dance...and, as they say, the rest is history.
So, for a real throwback this Thursday...
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| Silver Hills Care Center September 2008 |
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Recipe: Hot Spiced Cider
While this recipe isn't especially unusual, it's incredibly popular with guests when I serve it, so I'd like to share it with you. It's one of my favorites for get-togethers, because it's made in the slow cooker. So, I can prepare it in advance, and it's ready for company when they arrive...and it fills the house with the aroma of spices, too!
When I make it for company, I use apple juice, but when I prepare it for myself, I use a sugar-free apple juice drink mix. I'm okay with sugar substitutes, and it's a calorie-free holiday option.
Hot Spiced Cider
Ingredients:
8 cups (2 quarts) apple juice
3 (3") cinnamon sticks
3 whole cloves
3 allspice berries
1/2 orange, thickly sliced
1/2 lemon, thickly sliced
Brandy or rum (optional)
Directions:
Place all ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on HIGH until boiling. Reduce heat to LOW. If desired, add a splash of brandy or rum to each glass before serving.
When I make it for company, I use apple juice, but when I prepare it for myself, I use a sugar-free apple juice drink mix. I'm okay with sugar substitutes, and it's a calorie-free holiday option.
Hot Spiced Cider
Ingredients:
8 cups (2 quarts) apple juice
3 (3") cinnamon sticks
3 whole cloves
3 allspice berries
1/2 orange, thickly sliced
1/2 lemon, thickly sliced
Brandy or rum (optional)
Directions:
Place all ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on HIGH until boiling. Reduce heat to LOW. If desired, add a splash of brandy or rum to each glass before serving.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Christmas Music...Middle East Instruments!
I'll be honest: I love Arabic music. That said, I especially prefer Christmas songs performed on Middle Eastern instruments. To me, there's nothing more appropriate than listening to music about a man born in the Middle East being played on Middle Eastern instruments!
I'm sharing links to amazon.com, but they're also available on iTunes and elsewhere. Enjoy!
My first Middle Eastern Christmas album was this one, "A Time of Peace," by Brothers of the Baladi. It's equally as enjoyable to listen to as it is to dance to...Take a listen!
Naser Musa's version of "Jingle Bells" is Desert Gypsies' favorite rendition of this classic song! Check it out, and the rest of Musa's beautiful album titled "Christmas and Beyond," at this link.
The title of George Sadak and Fae Wiedenhoeft's album says it all! "Christmas Tapestry--East Meets West" is a wonderful fusion of Eastern and Western music and instrumentation. Sadak provides the Middle Eastern rhythms, while Wiedenhoeft's angelic voice covers the lyrics. But don't take my word for it...Listen to the gorgeousness here for yourself!
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