So I bought a 4-pound bag of lentils recently. It was on sale! And I like lentils! Therefore lots of lentil recipes incoming.
Mats:
1 lb sweet Italian sausage. Or spicy, but noone in my house likes the spicy.
1 onion, finely diced. 1cm cubes is your goal
1 stalk celery, sliced. Aiming for 2cm wide slices
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb dry lentils. Any color will be fine, but I used generic brown ones.
15oz diced tomatoes
8 cups water
4 cups chicked broth. 4c=32oz=1 box=2 cubes of bullion
1 Tb garlic powder
1 1/2 Tb fresh parsley, chopped
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp dried oregano, or 1 Tb fresh because the frost hasn't killed mine yet
1/4 tsp dried basil. The frost has killed that one, sadly
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Put a large pot on the stove over medium-high heat. Let the pot heat for a few minutes, then add the sausages. Cook the sausage for about 9 minutes, turning the links every 3 minutes or so. You're going for a sear on all sides, so just when the sausage skin has a nice dark brown/black line on it.
Remove the sausage from the pan and let cool for 3 or so minutes. Slice into bite-sized chunks. Or you can skip this step if you managed to find loose sausage meat. Either way, return the sausage to the pot.
Reduce heat to medium, then add the chopped onion, celery and minced garlic. Cook for 5 minutes or until onion becomes translucent.
Add lentils, water, chicken broth, and tomatoes. Season with the oregano, basil, garlic powder, bay leaves, parsley, and pepper. Stir well.
Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for 2 hours or until lentils are tender.
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Couscous with Blueberries and Sugar Snap Peas
Blueberries are in season now, and this is a great way to use them!
Mats
2c uncooked couscous
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped into 1/4 inch bits
1 Tb garam masala
1 tsp cinnamon
2 cups blueberries (about a pint and a half)
2 cups sugar snap or snow peas, cut in half
1/4 c sour cream
1/4c mint, chopped
1/2c roasted, unsalted cashews
Boil 2 1/2c water in a pot that has a lid. Turn off the heat, add the couscous and cover with a tight-fitting lid for 5 minutes.
Heat 1Tb oil in a large saucepan. Add chopped onion to hot oil and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in garam masala and cinnamon, then continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes.
Add other 1Tb oil to pot, then add peas. Cook for 3 minutes.
Add blueberries and cook for 1 minute.
Pour blueberry mixture into a large bowl, add cooked couscous, mint and cashews. Serve with a dollop of sour cream.
Mats
2c uncooked couscous
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped into 1/4 inch bits
1 Tb garam masala
1 tsp cinnamon
2 cups blueberries (about a pint and a half)
2 cups sugar snap or snow peas, cut in half
1/4 c sour cream
1/4c mint, chopped
1/2c roasted, unsalted cashews
Boil 2 1/2c water in a pot that has a lid. Turn off the heat, add the couscous and cover with a tight-fitting lid for 5 minutes.
Heat 1Tb oil in a large saucepan. Add chopped onion to hot oil and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in garam masala and cinnamon, then continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes.
Add other 1Tb oil to pot, then add peas. Cook for 3 minutes.
Add blueberries and cook for 1 minute.
Pour blueberry mixture into a large bowl, add cooked couscous, mint and cashews. Serve with a dollop of sour cream.
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Green Apple and Jicama salad
Really light and nice for a summer dinner. If you omit the shrimp, it's also awesome for a summer picnic dish.
Mats
2 Granny Smith apples, cored and peeled
1 cup matchstick carrots
1 jicama, peeled
1 lb shrimp (optional)
1c olive oil
6 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
4 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
1 Tbsp lemongrass
1c mint
2 cloves garlic
Chop the apples into bite-sized bits. Peel the jicama and slice into matchsticks. Combine carrots, apple and jicama in a large bowl.
Bring a large pot of water to boil, then add the shrimp and cook for 2 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
In a food processor, combine the oil, mustard, vinegar, lemongrass, mint and garlic. Process for about 15 seconds or until slightly chunky.
Slice the shrimp in half, or thirds if you have large shrimp. You're looking for pieces about as large as your apple and jicama.
Add the shrimp and sauce to the apple mixture, then stir really well to coat all the pieces with the sauce.
Cover an refrigerate for 1 or 2 hours, then serve.
Mats
2 Granny Smith apples, cored and peeled
1 cup matchstick carrots
1 jicama, peeled
1 lb shrimp (optional)
1c olive oil
6 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
4 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
1 Tbsp lemongrass
1c mint
2 cloves garlic
Chop the apples into bite-sized bits. Peel the jicama and slice into matchsticks. Combine carrots, apple and jicama in a large bowl.
Bring a large pot of water to boil, then add the shrimp and cook for 2 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
In a food processor, combine the oil, mustard, vinegar, lemongrass, mint and garlic. Process for about 15 seconds or until slightly chunky.
Slice the shrimp in half, or thirds if you have large shrimp. You're looking for pieces about as large as your apple and jicama.
Add the shrimp and sauce to the apple mixture, then stir really well to coat all the pieces with the sauce.
Cover an refrigerate for 1 or 2 hours, then serve.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Matzo Brei
Matzo Brei rhymes with 'fry', appropriately enough, since it's a fried egg dish. I found it to be a lovely base that can support a variety of tastes.
Mats
5 matzo squares
6 eggs
1/4c Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4c chives
2 tomatoes, cut into1-inch pieces
2 Tbsp butter
Break the matzo into eighths. Soak the broken bits in a bowl of water for 30 seconds (this makes them chewy instead of crunchy). Place them in a large bowl. Add the tomatoes.
In a small bowl, break the eggs and scramble them well. Add Parmesan cheese and chives, then stir well.
Add the egg mixture to the matzo mixture and stir so all the matzo bits are coated with the egg.
Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Melt the butter.
Add the egg mixture to the saucepan, spreading out the mixture as evenly as possible. Cook for 4 minutes, stirring often. Cook like scrambled eggs, move all the bits around and flip, so all the egg-coated matzo get cooked on all sides.
Season with a little salt and pepper to taste, possibly top with some more cheese, and enjoy.
Mats
5 matzo squares
6 eggs
1/4c Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4c chives
2 tomatoes, cut into1-inch pieces
2 Tbsp butter
Break the matzo into eighths. Soak the broken bits in a bowl of water for 30 seconds (this makes them chewy instead of crunchy). Place them in a large bowl. Add the tomatoes.
In a small bowl, break the eggs and scramble them well. Add Parmesan cheese and chives, then stir well.
Add the egg mixture to the matzo mixture and stir so all the matzo bits are coated with the egg.
Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Melt the butter.
Add the egg mixture to the saucepan, spreading out the mixture as evenly as possible. Cook for 4 minutes, stirring often. Cook like scrambled eggs, move all the bits around and flip, so all the egg-coated matzo get cooked on all sides.
Season with a little salt and pepper to taste, possibly top with some more cheese, and enjoy.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Thai-style pizza
Another slightly-odd (but delicious) pizza!
Mats
10oz pizza dough
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, sliced thinly and cooked. I generally pan-fry it.
4oz mushrooms, sliced
1/2 red bell pepper, sliced thinly
1/4c cilantro, roughly chopped. I'm growing a few varieties of basil in my garden this year, so I've substituted both Thai basil and purple basil for the cilantro.
'Sauce' Mats
1 Tbsp sesame or peanut oil
1/4c tamarind concentrate
1/4c smooth peanut butter
1tsp red curry paste
1Tbsp brown sugar
Preheat oven to 500 degrees, or as hot as it will go. Put your bakeware in the oven to heat up along with the oven. This is the secret to a crispy crust that won't get soggy from your toppings.
Cut a square of parchment paper out a little larger than whatever you're cooking your pizza on.
Sprinkle a bit of flour or cornmeal on the parchment (to prevent sticking. You should only need a tablespoon or two). Roll out the pizza dough to the desired shape and thickness on the parchment paper.
In a small bowl, combine all the 'sauce' mats and mix until you have a smooth paste. Spread the sauce on the raw crust. It's really sticky, so I generally rub a tiny bit of peanut oil on my fingers and use them to move it about, instead of a utensil.
Top the pizza with the mushrooms, then the sliced red pepper, and finally the chicken.
Open the oven, lift the parchment paper with the pizza and place it on your now-heated bakeware. Cook for 3 minutes.
Use a spatula (or two) to loosen the par-baked crust from the parchment, then pull the parchment paper out, setting the pizza back on the hot bakeware. Think of that magic trick where the magician pulls the tablecloth out from under the set table.
Continue cooking the pizza for an additional 6 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the toppings are hot.
Remove the pizza from the oven, sprinkle the chopped cilantro over top. Let rest for 3 minutes, then slice and serve.
Mats
10oz pizza dough
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, sliced thinly and cooked. I generally pan-fry it.
4oz mushrooms, sliced
1/2 red bell pepper, sliced thinly
1/4c cilantro, roughly chopped. I'm growing a few varieties of basil in my garden this year, so I've substituted both Thai basil and purple basil for the cilantro.
'Sauce' Mats
1 Tbsp sesame or peanut oil
1/4c tamarind concentrate
1/4c smooth peanut butter
1tsp red curry paste
1Tbsp brown sugar
Preheat oven to 500 degrees, or as hot as it will go. Put your bakeware in the oven to heat up along with the oven. This is the secret to a crispy crust that won't get soggy from your toppings.
Cut a square of parchment paper out a little larger than whatever you're cooking your pizza on.
Sprinkle a bit of flour or cornmeal on the parchment (to prevent sticking. You should only need a tablespoon or two). Roll out the pizza dough to the desired shape and thickness on the parchment paper.
In a small bowl, combine all the 'sauce' mats and mix until you have a smooth paste. Spread the sauce on the raw crust. It's really sticky, so I generally rub a tiny bit of peanut oil on my fingers and use them to move it about, instead of a utensil.
Top the pizza with the mushrooms, then the sliced red pepper, and finally the chicken.
Open the oven, lift the parchment paper with the pizza and place it on your now-heated bakeware. Cook for 3 minutes.
Use a spatula (or two) to loosen the par-baked crust from the parchment, then pull the parchment paper out, setting the pizza back on the hot bakeware. Think of that magic trick where the magician pulls the tablecloth out from under the set table.
Continue cooking the pizza for an additional 6 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the toppings are hot.
Remove the pizza from the oven, sprinkle the chopped cilantro over top. Let rest for 3 minutes, then slice and serve.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Green curry with cashews
Usually I make red curries; this one is green. I found this curry to have a more delicate flavor and the lemongrass complimented the green beans well.
Mats
1 Tbsp peanut oil
1 onion, thinly sliced. I mandolined it again.
12 oz mushrooms, sliced
3 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
1 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 lb green beans, cut into thirds
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup coconut milk
3 Tbsp green curry paste. I used Taste of Thai
2 Tbs lemon juice
2 Tbsp tamari sauce
1/2 cup roasted, salted cashews, chopped
1/4 cilantro, chopped
Heat oil in large wok over medium high heat. Add onion and mushrooms, cover and cook 6 minutes or until mushrooms begin to brown.
Uncover pan, add garlic and ginger, cook for two minutes, stirring often. Add green beans and cook 3 minutes, stirring often.
In a separate bowl, combine coconut milk, curry paste, lemon juice and tamari sauce. Whisk well.
Add curry mixture to wok, reduce heat to medium low, stir and cook for 2 minutes.
Remove from heat, top with cashews and cilantro and serve with rice.
I like to use the leftover coconut milk to cook the rice with, replacing it 1:1 with the usual water.
Mats
1 Tbsp peanut oil
1 onion, thinly sliced. I mandolined it again.
12 oz mushrooms, sliced
3 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
1 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 lb green beans, cut into thirds
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup coconut milk
3 Tbsp green curry paste. I used Taste of Thai
2 Tbs lemon juice
2 Tbsp tamari sauce
1/2 cup roasted, salted cashews, chopped
1/4 cilantro, chopped
Heat oil in large wok over medium high heat. Add onion and mushrooms, cover and cook 6 minutes or until mushrooms begin to brown.
Uncover pan, add garlic and ginger, cook for two minutes, stirring often. Add green beans and cook 3 minutes, stirring often.
In a separate bowl, combine coconut milk, curry paste, lemon juice and tamari sauce. Whisk well.
Add curry mixture to wok, reduce heat to medium low, stir and cook for 2 minutes.
Remove from heat, top with cashews and cilantro and serve with rice.
I like to use the leftover coconut milk to cook the rice with, replacing it 1:1 with the usual water.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Peanut Noodles with Celery
This recipe won a thumbs-up immediately. I served it room-temperature the first time, but next time I'm going to do it warm. I like how it uses the celery leaves in addition to the more-commonly used stems, so there's less waste!
Mats:
1/2c sesame or peanut oil
1/2c soy sauce
1/2c smooth peanut putter
4 Tbsp lemon juice
4 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp ground ginger
4 cloves garlic
2 tsp thai curry paste (I ran out of my old stuff, so now I'm using Thai Kitchen's Red Curry paste. I don't like it quite as much)
1 lb linguine
3 cups celery stalks, sliced into 1/4 inch nuggets
1 cup celery leaves, chopped plus 1 cup whole leaves
Combine oil, soy sauce, peanut butter, lemon juice, brown sugar, ginger, garlic and curry paste in a food processor. Run it until it forms a smooth sauce.
Cook the pasta in boiling water according to package directions. Mine was about 10 minutes cooking time.
*I ran the pasta under cold water after it was done to make this a cold noodle salad. It would also work as a warm dish*
Transfer the pasta to a large dish, then add the sliced celery stalks, chopped celery leaves, and 1 cup peanut sauce. Toss to combine.
Scoop into bowls, add a handful of whole leaves as garnish, and a bit more sauce, if you'd like.
When saving leftovers, save the extra sauce separately, as the noodles will absorb it all as they sit.
Mats:
1/2c sesame or peanut oil
1/2c soy sauce
1/2c smooth peanut putter
4 Tbsp lemon juice
4 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp ground ginger
4 cloves garlic
2 tsp thai curry paste (I ran out of my old stuff, so now I'm using Thai Kitchen's Red Curry paste. I don't like it quite as much)
1 lb linguine
3 cups celery stalks, sliced into 1/4 inch nuggets
1 cup celery leaves, chopped plus 1 cup whole leaves
Combine oil, soy sauce, peanut butter, lemon juice, brown sugar, ginger, garlic and curry paste in a food processor. Run it until it forms a smooth sauce.
Cook the pasta in boiling water according to package directions. Mine was about 10 minutes cooking time.
*I ran the pasta under cold water after it was done to make this a cold noodle salad. It would also work as a warm dish*
Transfer the pasta to a large dish, then add the sliced celery stalks, chopped celery leaves, and 1 cup peanut sauce. Toss to combine.
Scoop into bowls, add a handful of whole leaves as garnish, and a bit more sauce, if you'd like.
When saving leftovers, save the extra sauce separately, as the noodles will absorb it all as they sit.
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