With two busy boys it takes quite a long time to completely move into a new home. Or so I’m finding out. But maybe it’s just us. I have friends who also moved from Ohio around the time we did and they seem like they’ve unpacked all of their boxes and hung art no problem.

When we got to Ohio, I knew we’d only be there 18 months and didn’t bother to decorate. There were boxes of books that were simply taped back up and put on another moving truck to come to California. But now I know that we’ve got a minimum of 3 years here and I was determined to make this place feel like home; to look like a family really does live here. And we’re getting there. More art and picture frames are on the walls than not, however half of those picture frames are still waiting to be filled. (I really need to get the printer hooked up!)

But I did finally, after 2 months, declutter the kitchen counters and dining table! Random pieces of mail have been sorted and a “junk drawer” created of unused child safety locks and tape. Having a completely clear table and more counter space in my already cramped kitchen makes the transition to cutting out processed foods that much easier.

I made hummus every now and then in Ohio and was looking forward to doing so again when I could justify having a giant jar of tahini again. One of our very first grocery trips included chickpeas, but I couldn’t find tahini! I figured I’d try the commissary on base as they have a fairly impressive international foods aisle. No luck. I instead grabbed a large container of white roasted sesame seeds, it couldn’t be too difficult to make my own tahini! (For the record, the commissary does carry tahini, they were simply out of stock the day I was searching for it.)

Making your own tahini is in fact quite simple. And cheaper! While the consistency of my tahini isn’t as smooth as a store bought jar, it is quite delicious. The consistency is dependent though on a couple of things: the amount of oil used, the power of your food processor or blender, and the amount of time you process it.

This recipe will make just under 1 C of tahini.

Homemade Tahini

Ingredients:

• 1 C toasted sesame seeds
• 2 tbsp – 1/4 C canola oil

Steps:

1. Place sesame seeds in food processor with 2 tbsp oil. Puree until smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Slowly add more oil until desired consistency is reached.
2. For increased sesame flavor, add a touch of sesame oil. Season to taste with salt.

*This recipe is adapted from http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-tahini-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-203314*