Hummus

I've also seen it spelled "hummous".  This is an easy, tasty, and relatively healthy snack/condiment, as long as you have a food processor.  Seriously, blenders do not work.  Hummus is what I bring to parties nowadays, and everyone likes it.  Here's the simple version:

2 drained cans of chick peas, aka Garbanzo beans (or 1 big can). 
3 Tbsp peanut butter, all natural
1 or 1.5 Tbsp lemon juice (out of a bottle, from concentrate, no problem)
1 or 2 tsp cumin
1 Tbsp olive oil
2-3 fresh garlic cloves

Throw everything in the food processor and blend the heck out of it.  You'll probably need to add a little water to get a good texture.   I can't say how much water you'll need because it varies by the other ingredients and how the beans drained, and what texture you like.  Some people used reserved liquid from the beans.  Do not use all the liquid from the beans, or you will get a soup.

After everything is blended, put the hummus in a container, sprinkle some paprika and olive oil on top, cover and refrigerate for a few hours.

A traditional hummus uses tahini, pureed sesame seeds, but this is often expensive or hard to find.  Peanut butter works just as well, and your friends probably won't notice at all.  The cumin is vital!  Also, it is important to use garlic cloves instead of crushed garlic from a jar.  I don't add salt, but most people would probably like some salt in it.  It's already cheap to make, but you can save a buck by soaking dry chick peas overnight instead of buying them canned.

That's the base recipe that I use for folks who like things bland.  For myself, I kick up the garlic and throw in some jalapenos and cayenne pepper! 

This is a great condiment for pita, chips, crackers, and veggies.