Yumm!

When Claire said at dinner tonight, "Wow Mom...you don't usually get this excited about food!" I decided to share what we had for dinner tonight, and what I'm enjoying so much these days.

Years ago, when my mom and dad had a watch store at the 5th Street Public Market in Eugene, Oregon, my dad liked to have lunch at the same place every day.

No big deal, right? Well, it is if it's at Cafe Yumm!

You have to know something about Eugene to appreciate this unique restaurant.

While Eugene is known for its running trails, wide variety of cultural events, political activists, Saturday Market and the University of Oregon...it's also known for, as Wikipedia puts it: a significant population of people in pursuit of alternative ideas, and a large original hippie population!

And that definitely has impact on the community, particularly in the area of food. One of the ways that plays out, and that I like, is the emphasis they've brought to Eugene on healthy, natural, often gluten-free and vegetarian food that is found in restaurants and grocery stores throughout the city.

Which brings me back to Cafe Yumm! While you wouldn't know it when you walk in, it's a mostly vegetarian cafe. And their specialty is...the Yumm! Bowl. Yes, the "!' is part of the name of the best item on the menu!

When I was in Eugene a few weeks ago I wanted to go to the actual cafe, but we never had time. Thankfully, my mom had a bottle of Yumm sauce in her frig, so we made our own Yumm! Bowls at home.

I kept thinking how I really wanted to take some sauce home with me...except that it has to be refrigerated and I couldn't quite figure out how I'd do that with my already overstuffed luggage, bulging at the seams. So in the end, I didn't take any home.

Ah, but that didn't stop me from figuring out how to have a Yumm! Bowl here at home in Czech!

The first day after I returned home, I went to the internet in search of a recipe for their famous sauce...and found it! With a few modifications (since I couldn't find everything listed), I made it and have not been able to get enough! I have not even had time to take my own photo because it's that good!! (Photos courtesy of a Google search!)

I know this is getting long but I have to share this totally favorite recipe...right here, with my modifications. If you want to see the original recipe I modified from, go here. If not, here's my version of the Yumm sauce!

1/2 cup canola oil (I use grapeseed oil)
1/2 cup almond flour (it makes the sauce creamy)
1/2 cup garbanzo beans (from a can, or cooked)
3/4 cup tofu (I know...it's not something I've ever cooked with, but in this recipe it works!)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp curry powder
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp dried cilantro

1. In a blender or food processor, blend almonds and oil
2. Add all other ingredients and puree until creamy smooth
3. Cover and let stand in refrigerator (or use it right away like we do!)

In a bowl, use the sauce over:
Cooked brown rice
Cooked (or heated) black beans (I cooked my own beans tonight since I can't find canned ones here right now)

Top with whatever combination sounds good to you: salsa, cheese, fresh tomatoes, avocado, olives, fresh cilantro

And there you have it! The food that I could eat nearly every day right now!