not your average "Joe's" recipe

One of the great things about having this week off from school was that there was a lot of time to just hang out. I found myself getting to sit around with friends, which is something none of us have the time to do every day on a regular basis. A favorite place to congregate seems to be each of our kitchen tables though, and with that comes snacking. At a friend's house the other day, we munched on carrots and Spinach and Kale Greek Yogurt Dip from Trader Joe's. It was totally delicious and pretty nutritious as well, but nonetheless when I read through the ingredients I figured it wouldn't be too difficult to make from scratch either.

So I made the dip for lunch today for my parents and me. My one complaint is that it took a while to chop up all of the vegetables so finely, and even then I don't think they were in small enough pieces. Next time I make this (and for those of you who will follow this recipe) I would use the food processor to chop up the spinach, kale, and carrots.

This is a great snack with crackers or vegetables, or even a great lunch! The protein content of Greek yogurt keeps you full, and it's easy to digest (due to the lower amount of carbohydrates and therefore lower amount of lactose), and it contains probiotics, "good" bacteria that ensure absorption of nutrients and a proper development of the immune system, and can protect against microorganisms which cause disease. The red pepper is high in vitamin C, folic acid, fiber, and potassium. Spinach is low in calories and high in vitamins, and improves cardiovascular health, has cancer-fighting antioxidants, and improves brain function. Kale is a super-food, high in vitamin K, A, and B6, and fiber and protein.

Here's what you'll need:
yields 4-6 servings
1 (17-ounce) container of 0% plain Greek yogurt
2 tbsp honey
1 cup kale
1 cup spinach
2 green onions
1/3 cup red bell pepper (about half a pepper)
1 medium-sized carrot
2 garlic cloves
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp chili powder

1. Finely chop spinach and kale (using a food processor). Finely chop carrot, onion, and red pepper. Mince garlic.

2. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well to combine.

3. Serve with vegetables (use the remainder of the carrots and peppers to start!) or crackers. Enjoy!!