Sans Tahini?

I read a recipe for hummus without tahini today. It seems quite simple and I could make it at home. The logic for making it without tahini was that tahini is expensive, kids don't usually like it, it is OILY, and tahini is expensive. The writer of the column that included the recipe also mentioned many many times her aversion to even thinking about "bean juice" in the can of garbanzos, which I share. But I must say that the sesame paste and oil in hummus is one of my favorite parts of the dish. I think.

Bean juice IS gross. I wonder if it is mentioned anywhere on the website grossology.com which my daughter's first grade teacher not only showed the kids in class but sent to me in an email at my daughter's request. There are recipes on that website for fake vomit, bloody-looking things, etc, all in the name of getting kids interested in science but really just getting them good at freaking out their moms. And the word FART was used several times in the website. So, I'm sure the teacher, who I dearly adore, has already heard from some parents about it.

But back to hummus...I suppose I could do a side-by-side comparison, if SOME GENTLE READER(s) want to help. We could make hummus with and without tahini. If I can find some in Bloomington-Normal, if I can afford it, and if I can find my food processor in the back of my corner cabinet. All of which seem do-able. Let the taste tests begin!