The 2010 February Daring COOKs challenge was hosted by Michele of Veggie Num Nums. Michele chose to challenge everyone to make mezze based on various recipes from Claudia Roden, Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Dugid.
Mezze is a selection of appetizers or small dishes. The challenge requried us to make two mandatory items: pita bread and hummus.
At first, I had mixed feelings about this challenge. I’d been wanting to make homemade pitas for a while, but I’m not a big fan of hummus and I didn’t think my kids would like it much either. However, we did have the option of substituting nut butters for the sesame paste, and since we liked last month’s peanut dipping sauce, I decided to make a peanut butter hummus.
My family loves Souvlaki, so it was a logical addition to our mezze, along with Cucumber Raita and a crisp Greek Salad.
It was such a great meal and it came together quicker and easier than I had imagined. It was so fun watching the pitas puff up in the oven and fresh hot bread is always so much better than packaged. The peanut butter hummus is probably not something I’d make again, but it was delicious. It was so much creamier and less oily than the hummus I have had in the past.
Thanks Michelle for a really fun challenge! Visit the Daring Kitchen for the Mezze recipes.
Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Barbacoa Salad
I love to bake, especially cookies, cakes, and pies.
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
B, that's an awesome table.. love the way your bread has puffed up! ooh! and the Souvlaki looks so good!
Gret idea to go with souvlaki! Beautiful job on the challenge!
Your pita bread are extra puffy and delicious looking. I want one:D Love the souvlaki and the greek salad (those are some of my favorite things to eat). It looks delicious!
Really yummy looking!! Your salad looks very nice and colorful. And the souvlaki looks great!
Great selection of treats to go with the pita and hummus. I'll have to give peanut butter a try. I love regular hummus, but a nutty version might be fun.
Barbara, this looks like a very delightful and delicious family feast. Love the colorful salad you served on the table and Souvlaki is definitely bring out the best of this feast! Happy dining!
Sawadee from Bangkok,
Kris
delicious!! one of my favourite types of food, i love being able to have lots of different tastes in one meal!! :-)
I'd love to make my own pita bread. Looks so delish.
Great looking mezze – I found thta the pita bread puffed up more near the end – no doubt the baking stone was hotter by then. I guess that hummus is an aquired taste! LOL
Love everything on your table and the pita looks wonderful. Souvlaki is one of my fav's I should of thought of that. Well done on this challenge. Cheers from Audax in Sydney Australia.
My biggest problem is that I LOVE hummus but I'm allergic to tahini so if I eat to much I break out in hives. How pathetic am I that I still eat something I'm allergic too…haha. This pita looks great too. You did a great job!
mmmm I love homemade pitas
I really enjoyed this challenge…..the variety of spreads is amazing!
Barbara, this entire meal looks wonderful. I'm so happy to have the link to the recipes. We love Souvlaki as well!
OK, the fact that you made souvlaki rocks, not to mention your whole spread looks delicious and gorgeous! Perfect pitas too. Makes me want to do it all over again :) BTW, did you get the white chocolate powder yet? Dying to know how your hubby's white chocolate pudidng turned out. I just may beg for the recipe :)
Everything looks amazing, Barbara! I haven't tried making pita yet, but seeing yours is inspiring!
what a great idea to combine 2 challenges together, peanut butter hummus sounds great! They must taste delicious paired with the meat skewers.
Delicious looking meal. Your pitas turned out so perfect and peanut butter hummus is a fantastic idea.
Mimi
Excellent Barbara- everything looks absolutely delicious.
The peanutty hummus sounds delish. We love souvlaki too — thanks for sharing recipe. Wish I had thought of a Greek salad, bet that was fantastic stuffed into a warm pita!
The pita bread looks terrfic, so nice and puffy. Will have to give that one a try.
Yum! That looks soo good. I just stuffed my face with my ugly attempt at macarons so something savoury is highly appreciated!
The pitas looks so perfect.. soft, airy little pillows! Beautiful hummus too.
i love mezze and enjoyed it to the max. in dubai. but am loving your gorgeous colorful interpretation on the DC challenge perfect!
The freshly-baked pita looks so great! I have to give homemade pita a try.
Beautiful challenge.
I love mezze et yours looks delicious.
See soon
Love pita bread and hummus. Good idea of using peanut butter in hummus. Your pita bread has good a puff. Nice!