Many brands of prepared hummus offer a roasted red pepper variety but taking 5 minutes to dress up a plain or a forty spice hummus will result in a much richer dip, bright in color with the added amount of red peppers you are using and bright in flavor with a little extra lemon juice and garlic.

Ingredients

• 1 (14 to 18 ounce) jar roasted red pepper, drained
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, cracked from skin
• 1 1/2 cups prepared hummus spread (recommended: Tribe of Two Sheiks 40 Spice Hummus
• Chopped parsley leaves, for garnish
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, for garnish
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• 20 carrot sticks, available already cut in the supermarket
• 1/3 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
• 1 medium zucchini, cut into sticks
• 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips
• 1/2 pint grape tomatoes

Directions