“Without garlic I simply would not care to live.”
Louis Diat
It continues to be a busy month, where blogging seems to get to the back burner even though it rules my mind 24 X 7. In the midst of this, it’s time for the SRC, an event that I am committed to; a deadline that cannot be missed! So here on fast track is a beautiful and delicious Creamy Roasted Red Bell Pepper Dip from my assigned secret blog – Sweet Beginnings … a blog about sweet, sugary treats, and home cooked meals.
The Secret Recipe Club, the brainchild of Amanda of Amanda’s Cookin’. The idea behind the club – Each month you are “assigned” a participating food blogger to make a recipe from. It’s a secret, so don’t tell them you are making something from their blog! Click on the link if you want to join the fun!!
Of late, the festival season has piled loads of sweet stuff upon our delighted palettes. So I explored Jaidas blog for savoury stuff, and happily, I found plenty! Loads of wonderful seafood, fish, chicken; posts tagged with inspiration of all sorts - Asian, vegetarian, What’s Baking, appetizers and then this wonderful creamy bell pepper dip which she served with a grilled chicken ‘sammich’.
The grilled chicken sammich sounded just wonderful and I think what made it really stand out was this creamy red pepper sauce the talented girl created for a recipe swap. Of the sauce she says, ” The sauce is super-delish and also goes great with burgers…you should try it ASAP!” I did and it was yum!
Festival season, school holiday on every other day for one reason or another, a wedding in the family, the hub BUSY at work … and me dog tired like never before. Yet I snatched a moment yesterday to make crackers as the kids were feeling deprived that their Mama doesn’t seem to bake that much any more. 
These are crisp easy breezy crackers from a Mark Bittman recipe that I adapted to include some whole wheat flour. It’s a wonderful basic recipe that is takes well to any flavour you might like. I used garlic and dried herbs, and next time might do sesame, or sea salt with black pepper, poppy seeds … or maybe the bagel spice I used on these Same Day New York Bagels. 
The creamy roasted red bell pepper dip {sauce} is just what I wanted as a pairing for these crackers. Vibrant and delicious, I loved the way Jaida added cream cheese to it! I used a local substitute {cheese spread} and skipped the mayo as the dieting diva was dancing on my head!
It still was every bit delicious as it looks. Simple and addictive, its a great sauce/dip for burgers, sandwiches, crackers, fresh veggies, crudites and possibly even wraps! I adapted the recipe a bit, and I’m glad I got inspired to follow Jaida’s basic creation.
Add some balsamic or go with the mayonnaise, and do make sure you add the cream cheese … then sit back and enjoy! My kids loved these to bits. Crisp whole wheat crackers and finger licking good creamy roasted red bell pepper dip … healthy and addictive!
Crisp whole wheat crackers and finger licking good creamy roasted red bell pepper dip … healthy and addictive! Crackers from Mark Bittman Dip from Sweet Beginnings
Ingredients
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, plus more as needed
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 cloves garlic {+/- depending on your love for garlic}
1 tbsp dried Italian herbs
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
About 1/4 cup water, plus more as need
3 roasted red bell peppers
4 tbsp cheese spread {or cream cheese}
1 clove garlic
1/2 tsp red chili flakes
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Dash white wine vinegar
Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200C.
- Place the flours, salt, garlic, herbs and butter together in a large bowl or in the container of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Blend with a fork or pulse, until the flour and butter are combined. Add about 1/4 cup of water and blend, then continue to add water until the mixture holds together but is not sticky.
- Thermomix:Place all ingredients except water and run at Speed 6 for 7-8 seconds until breadcrumb like texture. Add water, run for another 5 seconds to combine. Then add 1/4 cup water and knead for 2 minutes. {Check by pinching dough between fingertips to see if it holds together; add a little more water if required}.
- Roll out on a lightly floured surface until 1/4 inch thick, or even less. Don't worry about overhandling-add flour as needed, and keep rolling.
- Cut into strips with a pastry cutter {or pizza wheel}, and transfer to baking sheet with the help of a flat spatula. {You can even cut them after transferring the rolled out dough to the baking sheet, or roll out the dough on parchment and transfer the sheet to the baking tray.}
- Bake until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Cool on a rack; serve warm or at room temperature , or store in a tin.
- Mix all ingredients together in food processor until well-blended. Taste and adjust seasoning if required.
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