Delicious Dips For Heart Health

To kick of the announcement of my Red Hot Heart's tele-series, I've put together a ton of heart healthy recipes to share how delicious healthy eating can be!Want to join us? Click here to learn more and sign up for the tele-series, which starts 2/15...These two delicious dips are cholesterol free, filled with heart healing ingredients, and super easy to make.The first recipe contains Avocados. Packed with monounsaturated fat, avocados can lower the "bad" cholesterol in your body, the LDL, while raising the HDL, the "good" cholesterol.Avocados are awesome, because they help your body absorb carotenoids—especially beta-carotene and lycopene—which are essential for heart health.The second recipe, hummus, is made with chickpeas or Garbanzo beans, which are high in fiber and a great source of cholesterol free protein. Diets high in legumes (aka beans and peas) are associated with lower cardiovascular disease! Garbanzos' contribution to heart health lies not just in their fiber, but in thier high amounts of folate and magnesium, which are known to support cardiovascular health.So check out these recipes and get to dippin'!

Holy Guacamole!

Total Time: 10 minutesIngredients:

• 2 large ripe avocados
• 2 teaspoons lime juice
• 1 Roma tomato, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne powder
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• dash salt to taste

Preparation:

Mash avocado with a fork until almost smooth, or until desired consistency.Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until well combined. That's it! Dip and enjoy!

Hearty Hummus

Total Time: 10 minutesIngredients

2 cups canned chickpeas, drained, liquid reserved (or 4 cups home cooked chickpeas, cooled)

1 1/2 teaspoons pink Himalayan salt

1/3 cup sesame tahini paste

6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)

2 tablespoons water or liquid from the chickpeas

1/4 teaspoon to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder (to taste)

dash of pepper to taste

* For serving, top with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a dash of paprika.

DirectionsTurn on the food processor fitted with the S blade and process the garlic until it's minced. Add the rest of the ingredients to the food processor and process until the hummus is coarsely pureed. Taste, for seasoning, and chill for an hour or serve at room temperature with olive oil and paprika sprinkled on top.Interested in joining my Red Hot Hearts: Women's Weight Loss & Cardiovascular Health Tele-Series? Go here!