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Cooking with Intention 2; Favorite Tunes 2006; and Christmas Starts Early.
Cooking with Intention 2
So tonight I made what I consider an "old standard": lentil spinach soup. There are a few different lentil soups I make, this one is the simplest and one of the most filling. And for no real reason whatsoever I'll point out both that a) I LOVELOVELOVE lentil soup or lentils in any menu item really; and b) lentils do not need to be presoaked. Thus no lentil soup takes THAT long to make.
It's from what is my fall-back cookbook for basics: Betty Crocker. Do you find you always use what your mom used? She was a Betty Crocker woman, not Joy of or Better Homes or whatever other standards people have. Thus I am.
Slice up an onion (I used one large tonight instead of 2 medium) and a clove of garlic (unless the only garlic you can find is growing scary trees, in which case throw it away and use garlic powder instead!). I always vacillate between slicing them as directed or chopping them. Because when you start making this soup, it looks like a whole huge mess of onion. But at the end, it's not like that at all. But I can't always remember that it will be fine in the end... Anyway, cook those in oil until tender then throw in 3 cups water, 1 1/4 cups lentil and a teaspoon of salt. Simmer for an hour. Add 10 oz spinach and two tsps lemon juice.
Yum! But as you can see, it doesn't make very much / only about four servings (1 1/4 cups each). (Another great thing about Betty Crocker, she gives you serving amounts/sometimes size AND calorie count per serving, which is quite helpful!)
In other news:
a) I continue to live under the delusion that you want to know what I think of these things, thus I have put up a LONG list of my favorite tunes of 2006.
b) Mary surprised me on Saturday with what I am considering my first Christmas gift of the year. Although it may have been intended just to calm me down from my crankiness after I dropped a boatload o' cash at the toy store, getting the nephews' presents!
Isn't he the cutest little devil? :)
Now to get mentally ready for Monday, if that is even possible. I don't like Mondays. Cheerio.
Posted by Duff at December 17, 2006
Hey get out of my head. I too went into the room with the coffee maker (aka kitchen) and made soup. I'd been dreaming of soup while working out so - snap, I made that happen. I ate yummy sourdough with mine...
Posted by: Sil at December 18, 2006 01:17 AM
mmm that soup looks yummy. i love a good lentil too. and i really should eat better.
Posted by: maryse at December 18, 2006 06:09 AM
That soup looks great! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Stephanie at December 18, 2006 10:07 AM
I, indeed, need to know about the music.
Posted by: claudia at December 18, 2006 11:41 AM
Heh. I should just ask you to tell me whenever you buy music so I can go get it. Is good list. Juno buy.
Saw Damien Rice Friday night. My goodness. Note to self - enjoy live music very much. Go more often.
Show exceeded all expectations. Reminded me that music is a mutable art form and the change from moment to moment, song to song is what makes it great.
Posted by: Juno at December 18, 2006 02:37 PM
First present, yeah!
Posted by: Mary at December 18, 2006 03:38 PM
My mom is a Better Homes & Gardens cookbook woman, for the basic stuff, so I am too. I'm right there with you on that one!
Posted by: sarah b. at December 18, 2006 05:09 PM
Lentil soup, yum. And much healthier than the Barefoot Contessa butterfat madness I've been cooking. Thank you for the recipe.
Posted by: sarahbchicago at December 19, 2006 01:21 PM
that soup looks so good! i can't wait to go home because i told my mom she has to make black bean soup that night! oh and thank you for the christmas card! i just checked my mail today. that was so sweet of you!!
Posted by: Penny at December 20, 2006 12:04 AM
YUM. I love lentil soup too!!!
And yes, I'm a Joy of Cooking person because my mother was one. The 1975 edition was super - the 1992 (is that it? whichever is not the most current one that came out) sucked. I have hopes for the 2006 version, especially since I asked for it for Christmas.
And thanks for the xmas card! So cute!
Posted by: Gloria at December 20, 2006 01:13 AM
Couldn't help myself!
You've been tagged for a weird meme! Check out my blog for the rules.
Posted by: Rebecca at December 21, 2006 10:54 AM
You always pick out the best music-- I can't tell you how many iTunes purchases I have made because of you (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club comes to mind immediately)
I love Betty Crocker. Best pie recipes bar none.
Also, p.s., I love your toes from last post! Makes me want to repaint mine.
Posted by: jen at December 21, 2006 11:32 PM
Ooh, thanks for the recipe. And thanks for the nod to the Replacements last post, my favorite band.
Posted by: Valerie in San Diego at December 22, 2006 03:45 PM