Test Kitchen for Dummies

Here at Full At Last, all of our recipes undergo rigorous testing before they are posted. Rigorous. Not only do my friend Melanie and I make, taste and attempt to serve each recipe to our own family, but we also go the extra mile … we have Glennon try them as well.

For those of you that don’t know Glennon, she has been known to turn off the oven when the pre-heat signal chimes, serve melted plastic lids for dinner and use her only pan as part of a festive Fall centerpiece. Some would call her a lost cause in the kitchen but not me. I saw an opportunity to turn her kitchen phobias and blunders into an effective barometer for all of you. I feel strongly that if Glennon attempts a recipe and is successful with it that, quite literally, anyone can make it.

So, if something receives the “Glennon Stamp of Approval,” or GSA as we will now refer to it, you will know that it is safe for even the most cooking-challenged among you to try.

In the interest of full disclosure, you should know that yesterday’s black bean hummus recipe, while delicious and nutritious, did not receive the GSA.

Here’s what happened when she attempted to scrape down the sides of the blender with her red spatula; note the disappointed looks on the faces of her mom and kids:



A close up shot reveals a half-chewed up red spatula:



Further photos reveal that Glennon was still trying to serve the hummus, complete with bits of red plastic for garnish. It looks like Chase was not fooled:



The black bean hummus is easier to make in a food processor; however, you CAN use a blender. Just make sure to turn off the blender before you scrape down the sides so you don't end up with a bowl of spatula-flecked hummus. (It's okay Glennon, it could have happened to anyone!)

Tune in tomorrow to meet the official taste team!