I’m that weird person that walks up and down the length of the farmers’ market twice before beginning to buy anything. Yes, I’m searching out the stalls with the best produce deals (looking for my beloved $2/lb delicata squash), but I’m also searching for recipe ideas. Blueberry hazelnut bread? Rhubarb ginger ricotta crepes? Sweet potato satay hummus? Needless to say, you can see where I got my inspiration from today.

While I miss the bounty of summer fruit, I adore winter vegetables. All the squash, root veggies, brussel sprouts, and dark leafy greens. And when I say all, I mean like the ridiculous-amount-to-carry-on-public-transit type all. I once got too excited at the market and ended up purchasing two bags worth of every heavy fruit and vegetable you could possibly come across at a Vancouver farmers’ market: carrots, beets, apples, squash, potatoes, romanesco… Standing at the bus stop alone, my heart was buzzing from excitement thinking about ways to utilize all the beautiful local produce. In contrast, my arms were not amused about hauling the bags 7 blocks home. Let’s just say I learnt my lesson and never bought 3 weeks worth of groceries in one trip. At least when I have to bus.

When I have a car though, grocery shopping can get out of hand. While my parents were vacationing, I got to keep the car with me. So Chew and I spent two consecutive days grocery shopping at 9am. #grannystatus. Both times we went with the intention to get ingredients for blogging but as you can predict, we leave with a plethora of things that weren’t on the original list. Oranges on sale? Let’s each get 5 pounds! Oh hey, these Medjool dates look soooo juicy. I must get a box! Arugula or spinach this week? Arugula. Kinda feeling Weetabix, let me get a box.

Of the many items we stocked our fridges with, the yam and chickpeas got turned into this unique hummus. It’s sweet, salty, spicy, and creamy all at the same time. Hummus is incredibly cheap and easy to make. You have the flexibility to play with flavour combinations depending on your cravings or the season. This sweet potato hummus would be a fun addition to your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner table. Serve it with crackers, fresh vegetables, or bread!

Stay tuned for an epic vegan winter sandwich in the coming week that features this Sweet Potato Satay Hummus!