I first tasted this hummus dip a few years ago when I hosted a play date with my "mom friends" at my house. It was our very first get together, and everyone brought appetizers. Our goal was for all the moms to eat and chat while the kids played! My friend Katie showed up with this amazingly good hummus dip that was topped with Kalamata olives, grape tomatoes, parmesan cheese, basil, and balsamic vinegar.  I never forgot about that dip and a couple years later finally asked her for the recipe. I've made it a few times since she shared it with me. Each time I make this dip, there are never leftovers. It goes fast! And when I say it's easy to make, I'm not joking. As  long as you can spread some store-bought hummus in a dish and chop a few toppings, you are good! This is the perfect dish to make as a dinner appetizer or to take to a friend or family member's  house for a get together. It can be eaten with pita chips, pretzels, or veggies. Here's what you'll need:

• 1 container of store bought-hummus (it can be garlic or plain hummus)
• Pitted Kalamata olives
• Grape tomatoes
• Grated parmesan cheese (optional. I omitted the cheese, but it is yummy!)
• Fresh basil
• Balsamic vinegar

To start, chop the Kalamata olives, grape tomatoes, and basil. I eyeball the amount of each topping I'll need. It depends on the size of your dish. I use about six grape tomatoes, about eight olives, and a few basil leaves. You may need to use more or less than this depending on the size of your serving dish. You can chop the olives and tomatoes as big or small as you'd like.

Next, spread your hummus in a shallow dish. I love using garlic hummus.  Any store-bought brand will do.

Then, add your chopped olives, tomatoes, and basil to the top of the hummus. Sprinkle on your parmesan cheese (if you wish to use some). Lastly, drizzle some balsamic vinegar over the top. YUM! Easy, right?

This dip is really so good. I like to eat it with pita chips. Pretzels and carrots also sound good! You won't regret trying out this recipe. Enjoy!