Lentil Soup

This is definitely the meal I make the most often. It's very healthy and the ingredients are inexpensive. The recipe comes from my Uncle Paul.

2 c dried lentils
2 slices bacon, diced, raw (or cooked sausage or ham chunks)
1/2 c chopped onion
1/2 c chopped celery (or green pepper)
1 carrot sliced
3 T snipped parsley (or 3 t dried)
1 clove minced garlic or 1 t. garlic salt
2 1/2 t salt or 1 1/2 t salt if you used garlic salt
1/4 t pepper
1/2 t oregano
1 15-16 oz can tomatoes
2 T vinegar
(I sometimes add a box of frozen chopped spinach. No need to thaw.)

Rinse lentils; drain and place in pot. Add 8 c water and all ingredients except vinegar and tomatoes. Cover and simmer until lentils are tender. Add tomatoes and vinegar. Simmer another 20 min.

The Two Biggest Hits Of All Time

I enjoyed this article about the top songs of Bing Crosby and Elton John.

"White Christmas" is one of those songs that is so organic, so seemingly effortless, that it's hard to imagine that somebody sat down one day and wrote it. It seems like it was just always there.

Herbed Bread Stuffing with Mushrooms and Sausage

This was very popular at my Thanksgiving table this year. The different colored additions make a pretty presentation. The mushrooms and sausage give it a smoky flavor, while the vegetables and fresh herbs keep it light. There was just the right amount of moisture to make it stuffing-like (instead of crouton-like), but the bread was still quite crispy, which is how I like it. I used ground pork sausage. I omitted dinner rolls this Thanksgiving because this stuffing fit the bill.

Thanksgiving is over, but there's still Christmas. But what the heck? It doesn't have to be a holiday to make a yummy side dish like this!
(click the title to see the recipe)

New Take on Cranberry Sauce

My father-in-law made this one Thanksgiving, and I fell in love with it. It's not your usual cooked cranberry sauce, but a no-cook French recipe in which the ingredients are blended. It's bright and fresh, a good accompaniment to a heavy dinner. I like eating it plain with a spoon, or it could be an ice cream topping. It's really easy too.

Cranberry-Grand Marnier Sauce

• 2 cups fresh cranberries (12 oz bag)
  
• grated zest and juice of 2 oranges
• 1/2 c sugar
• 1/4 c Grand Marnier (I omitted this)

Put everything in a blender and blend it up!

(UPDATE: So...2 cups and 12 oz of cranberries are not the same thing. I think you're safer using the 12 oz bag if you have it.)

Toasting Pumpkin Seeds

In past years I have tried many different ways of toasting pumpkin seeds, including soaking them in water before baking to soften them. Usually they are almost too woody to eat. This year I found the best way yet. I followed the instructions on this video, toasting at 225 for 50 minutes, stirring every 20 minutes. I then raised the temp to 350/400 to get them browned, cooking for about another 10 minutes. Just watch them. They were still slightly woody, but much improved from the other ways I've tried. I'm also wondering if seeds from smaller pumpkins are more edible, since that's a smaller pumpkin in the video. I've only ever tried it with jack-o-lantern seeds.

Elegant Pumpkin-Walnut Layered Pie

I am not a fan of pumpkin pie; I think it's the texture I don't like. I had to make a pumpkin pie for our Thanksgiving gathering last year, and I found this amazing recipe. For the first time I actually liked pumpkin pie, and I'm looking forward to eating it again this year. It's got a layer of walnuts on the bottom, and then the pumpkin filling has cream cheese in it, making it more smooth and creamy. It's very good. So if you're looking for a way to enliven your same old Thanksgiving desserts, try this recipe.
(click the title to see the recipe)

Pumpkin-Cranberry Muffins

I tried these yesterday, and now I plan on making them many more times. They are very moist. You can sub nuts or chocolate chips for the cranberries if you'd like. I used whole wheat flour for half of the flour it called for. I also used a full teaspoon of cinnamon because I like a lot of cinnamon. These are perfect warmed for a cool fall morning.
(click the title to see the recipe)

Split Pea Soup with Rosemary

This is a yummy little soup, good flavor. Plus it's all vegetables and really healthy! I made a few substitutions: dried rosemary (a little less) for fresh, water for vegetable broth. I skipped the garnish too. If you don't want it entirely smooth, only blend part of the soup.
(UPDATE: I've made this many times now and everyone that tastes it loves it, including one person who will not eat vegetables of any kind. She asked for the recipe. This is good enough to serve company; I already have twice.)
(click the title to see the recipe)

White Bean Dip with Pita Chips

I have made this many, many times, and I love it! It's healthy too: beans, olive oil, and I use whole wheat pitas to make the chips. I would recommend not using fresh garlic for this. It's too strong. Use bottled garlic or garlic powder.
This picture isn't so great; it's not as dry as it looks here. It's really like the consistency of hummus. Great snack to share with friends.
(click the title to see the recipe)

How to Put Out Kitchen Fires

When a fire starts in the kitchen, you need to act fast to keep the fire from getting out of control. But how you act depends on what kind of fire you have and where it is. Follow these instructions for putting out kitchen fires:

• If you have a fire in the oven or the microwave, close the door or keep it closed, and turn off the oven. Don’t open the door! The lack of oxygen will suffocate the flames.

• If your oven continues to smoke like a fire is still going on in there, call the fire department.

• If you have a fire in a cooking pan, use an oven mitt to clap on the lid, then move the pan off the burner, and turn off the stove. The lack of oxygen will stop the flames in a pot.

• If you can’t safely put the lid on a flaming pan or you don’t have a lid for the pan, use your fire extinguisher. Aim at the base of the fire — not the flames.

• Never use water to put out grease fires! Water repels grease and can spread the fire by splattering the grease. Instead, try one of these methods:

  • If the fire is small, cover the pan with a lid and turn off the burner.

  • Throw lots of baking soda or salt on it. Never use flour or sugar, which can explode or make the fire worse.

  • Smother the fire with a wet towel or other large wet cloth.

  • Use a fire extinguisher.

• Don’t swat at a fire with a towel, apron, or other clothing. You’re likely to fan the flames and spread the fire.

• If the fire is spreading and you can’t control it, get everyone out of the house and call 911! Make sure everybody in your family knows how to get out of the house safely in case of a fire. Practice your fire escape route.
  

How Many People Have My Name?

This is kinda fun.

All That Heaven Allows (1955)

I just watched this love story starring Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson. I thought this was a most awkward pairing; they had no chemistry. Every time they kissed I wanted to puke. Jane Wyman looked old and her hair was dyed an awful red. At the time this movie was made Wyman was 38 and Hudson 30 (and in the story he is supposed to be a younger man). I found out they also made another movie together, prior to this one, called Magnificent Obsession (1954).

This is the first time I have seen Jane Wyman in a romantic role, and truthfully, I can't separate her from that "Aunt Polly" image, especially when she is older. I haven't seen too many of her movies, but I did see her in a Hitchcock called Stage Fright (1950) that I enjoyed. If you didn't know, Jane Wyman was married to Ronald Reagan for 8 years in the 1940s and they had 2 children together (one biological, one adopted).

In addition to the uncomfortable casting in this movie, the lines between the two leads were cheesy, nearly painful at times, and it just plain wasn't that good.

Broccoli and Cheese Soup

If you like this type of soup, this is a good solid recipe. It's easy and has few ingredients. I didn't have Velveeta so I put in some shredded cheddar. I also threw in a little cauliflower that I needed to use up.

Broccoli and Cheese Soup

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 1 (16-ounce) package broccoli florets
• 2 1/2 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 8 ounces light processed cheese, cubed (such as Velveeta Light)

Preparation

Heat a large nonstick saucepan coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; saute 3 minutes or until tender. Add broth and broccoli. Bring broccoli mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium; cook 10 minutes.

Combine milk and flour, stirring with a whisk until well blended. Add milk mixture to broccoli mixture. Cook 5 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring constantly. Stir in pepper. Remove from heat; add cheese, stirring until cheese melts.

Place one-third of the soup in a blender or food processor, and process until smooth. Return pureed soup mixture to pan.

Grocery Shopping Tips

Here are some ways we may think we are saving at the grocery store, but aren't!

Family Meals Matter

Our church encourages us to eat meals together as a family. See what researchers say about the benefits of family meals (from this article, Cooking Light, November 2008).

“Families who eat together have healthier, more balanced diets. Making family mealtime a priority not only improves everyone’s physical health, but it also contributes to their overall well-being and mental health.” --Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, LDN, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

Physical Health Benefits:
More meals prepared and eaten together means better nutrition, more control over what’s eaten, and less weight gain for the whole family.
[Researchers] found [adolescents] who dined often with their families ate more produce, routinely ate breakfast, and drank less soda as young adults.
Ellyn Satter, MS, RD, LCSW, a family therapist and author, says: “People who grab food when they happen to think about it or absentmindedly snack instead of taking the time to sit down and eat don’t do as well with diet quality and weight maintenance.”

Emotional Health Benefits:
A 2004 Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine study found families who regularly eat together are closer than those who eat separately.
[This] study showed that children who regularly dine with their families spend more time involved in academic pursuits, such as homework and reading. Also, those who frequently ate with their families had better grades and lower rates of depression, and they were less likely to use alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs. And girls from homes where family meals were the norm had higher self-esteem and fewer eating disorders.