Lentils are nice because they don’t need to soak. However, I do always rinse them. When I made them the other day, I made lentils and rice that turned out almost like a Mujadara (that’s a Middle Eastern dish). I don’t usually measure when cooking so I have no exact amounts to give you, though I’m sure if you googled Mujadara or Mujaddara, you’d find plenty of exact recipes.

I poured some lentils into a big pot and add enough water to cover plus maybe an inch or so. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes. You don’t have to stir, but I did a couple of times, just because our stove tends to run hot and I didn’t want it to burn.

After 15 minutes, I added some rice (I used white, because it’s what I had, but I would’ve preferred some basmati, I think… not that the white rice was bad, just that the basmati is more flavorful) and more water (enough to cover, plus an inch or so). Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover. I checked on it every five minutes, stirring each time (yes, it makes the rice more sticky, but it works well with the lentils). These cooked for somewhere between 15 to 20 minutes. Just wait till all the water is absorbed and the rice is cooked how you like it.

Then, I chopped up an onion. Half of it was chopped into little pieces, the other half in “rings”. I sauteed the onions until translucent and mixed the chopped pieces into the rice/lentil mixture. I kept cooking the rings till they were nice and brown and used them to top the dish with.

I seasoned everything with salt, pepper, cumin, and cinnamon. However, you can use whatever seasonings that you’re comfortable with.

Later, after I’d had my dinner, I set aside some in a tupperware container. Then, with what was left in the pot (I made a lot so that I’d have stuff for work for a few days), I added a can of sliced mushrooms, a can of tomato sauce, and a can of diced tomatoes. I bought two green peppers (they were on sale 2 for $1.00) . I will be putting some of the mixture into the peppers, cooking on 350F until the peppers just start to soften. I think it’ll make a tasty lunch tomorrow and some other meal, too. Plus there will probably be leftovers, still.

The whole thing cost me less than $10, including the rice and lentils.

In retrospect, the only thing I’d change is to divide the rice BEFORE seasoning it. The cumin/cinnamon is good, but seems slightly out of place to my taste buds with all the tomato-y stuff. It’s not bad, just not what I’d normally do.

I do want to mention that a lot of the food is Kate and Alex’s. I’ve got some stuff in there, but not much right now.

The Fridge:

The Fridge Door:

The Fridge Drawers:

The Freezer:

The Freezer Door:

Now it’s your turn. Show me your fridge.

I’ve also been eating a lot of cucumber and cream cheese salad. Last week, when I was very broke, I also had a lot of Progresso minestrone and vegetable soups (because they were on sale). Like I said, it’s a process.

Here’s a round up of a few blogs and articles that I’ve found helpful as well as a few recipes I’d like to try, based on my desire to eat more veggies:

The blog A Veggie Venture has all sorts of wonderful resources.

An article at Wholesome Goodness: 11 Ways to Eat (and Enjoy!) More Vegetables.

Tangerine Carrot Cupcakes at White on Rice Couple

Stuffed Peppers from Escape from Obesity

Caprese Gelato at Bruno’s Dream sounds really interesting. And tasty. Caprese salad is one of my favorite foods.

Asparagus Flan from Orangette though I’d probably end up making a broccoli flan instead because my husband seems to have a bit of a bias against asparagus. Or, I could just make it for myself and maybe share with friends – I love asparagus.

Zucchini Polenta Tart from Chocolate & Zucchini. We both love polenta, so this would probably be quite lovely for us.

Also, although I’ve not got a particular recipe I want to make, I’ve really been craving tomato-based cabbage soup. Mmm.

If you’ve got any “must try” vegetable recipes, please let me know.

So, that’s where I am, where I’ve been, and where I’m hoping to go. I’m looking forward to cooking more again (and baking!) and developing this blog.

“They sound good… do you have the recipe on you?” “Here ya go.” But, she pointed out to me: “Oh. But you forgot to write down the directions, other than “reserve 2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar and coat cookies in it”.

Now, here’s the thing. Cookies are fairly simple, for the most part. If I don’t write down something else, here’s the procedure I follow: cream butter/sugar, add wet ingredients, combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl, combine dry with wet. This is my basic “cookie method”.

I’m a big fan of simplifying things as much as possible – but not too much – and using “methods” does that for me.

Unfortunately, it did mean that I had to write it all down, anyway…

Bold what you’ve tried, strike what you don’t want to try, and italicize the ones you actively want to try (as opposed to “I’d try it if you put it in front of me, but won’t seek it out”). A new addition from yours truly, bold AND strike things you’ve tried but dislike. Then, bold AND italicize the ones you really enjoy.

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue – I like chocolate fondue, too. Of course.
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart – usually best late at night
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream – really good if done right
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters – I’ve always LOVED smoked oysters. Thanks, mom!
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda – fantastic if made with quality ingredients
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl – fantastic if done right
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut – OMG I love sauerkraut so much. I would eat it almost every day, if I could.
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu – actually, this food frightens me. Can result in death and I have a weak constitution. That’s the only reason that I haven’t tried it yet.
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut (you haven’t lived until you’ve eaten off straight off the belt!)
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi – Umeboshi are so frakking fantastic!!
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin – this is clay. Really. I’m not sure what’s going on here, so if this is ALSO something else, please let me know. I don’t have pica nor do I have geophagia, so I don’t have a desire to just munch on some clay.
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake (these aren’t all the same. Nowhere near the same. WTF. Anyway, I’ve eaten all of ‘em.)
68. Haggis – but I’m afraid I wouldn’t like it so I don’t want to have to pay for it myself. I just want to try a bite.
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu – OMG, this shit is strong.
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong – no, but I’ve had stuff that’s been smoked with it
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate – brought in by a fellow student at school
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake