Some Lentil Love!

What's for dinner? Morrocan Lentil Stew.

(how much do I love my iphone Hipstamatic? Tons!)

Oh so excited about this meal! This is about to become one of my all time favorites. The simplicity is that it's 15 minutes of prep, cooks all day in the crock pot and you come home to the most glorious smells wafting through the house greeting you at the door. I was seriously drooling by the time I got to the pot to stir and check the meat, AH! So perfect.

Ok here is the recipe which is a mox of several I have seen and please feel free to embellish, I did!

1 bag green lentils (there are different colors)
1 small roast or bone/hamhock (I love a small roast, beef, lamp, pork, etc.)
2 or 3 chopped carrots
1/2 chopped onion (I like purple but use your fav)
2 cans diced or whole tomato
1/2 a head of garlic pressed or tons of garlic powder
1 tbls basil or Italian seasoning
1 tsp dried parsely
1 tbls salt
1 tbls black pepper (yes a lot)
1 tbls chili powder
1 tsp cummin
1 tsp thyme
1/2 c Worcestershire sauce
1/4 c lemon juice
1 can chicken broth
3 cans water

Ok, so these measurements on the spices are give and take. I am not an exact measure-er type of person, so be sensible and omit what you do not like. Also red potatoes are good in this, I was out. If you want it more like a soup, add more water. Rice wine vinegar would be good instead of the Worcestershire as well. Rinse and sort the lentils like the bag says but no pre-soaking. Brown your roast if you use roast, then throw it all in the crock pot, cook on low for 10 hours, not kidding.

We ate it with rice crackers to keep it gluten free and a garnish of Mediterranean hummus. Yummy.

Bon Appetit!

Attention Deficit Cooking Disorder = ADCD

Seriously, I am recovering from this. This is a post or series, hmm we will have to see about that, about my cooking journey.

First off let me say I in no way whatsoever have any type of attentive, attention, deficit, hyperactivity disorders or the likes of which. Nor do I poke fun at these. However when it comes to cooking, that is an entirely different matter altogether.

Here are a few thoughts about my past cooking philosophies...
You know you have ADCD if you frequently serve cereal or ice cream for dinner, or secretly want to.
You know you have ADCD if you try to get out of cooking as much as possible reasoning that you have a lifetime of meals to prepare, you are simply pacing yourself.
You know you have ADCD when you eat breakfast for dinner more than twice a week,
You know you have ADCD when you know where all the good dollar, $5, and buy one get one free restaurant deals are.
You know you have ADCD when the most important element of any recipe is preparation time.
You know you have ADCD when after sampling at Costco you wonder if that can count for dinner.
You know you have ADCD if you dread a trip to the grocery store like you dread a trip to the dentist.
And finally you know you have ADCD when your six year old requests a fend for yourself night as her birthday dinner!

I know, sad. But some of you relate, I know you do. And it's not that I couldn't or didn't ever cook. I did cook plenty. And it's not that my food tasted bad, my kids thought I was wonderful cook but now they know the difference for sure :) but I just really didn't love it.

However I have changed, I am recovered. Over the last several years my tastes have changed for one. I feel as though I have gained a more refined palate. I spent a few years working in catering and learning more about food and fine foods. It had a great effect on me. I realized that its not always easiest to prepare packaged processed foods. I realized that my body felt better after eating more whole foods, fresh foods. I read some books about eating organic and watched "Super Size Me" and yeah I about threw up.

I changed. And I learned that I could enjoy cooking for the creativity of it.

And the outcome has been amazing. So these are my cooking tales. Not wild and only mildly entertaining, but a journey none the less.

So whats for dinner tonight?

Black Bean Chili soup! I can not get enough of that stuff and my family loves it too. Here is the recipe!
1 lb ground turkey(I also make this with shredded chicken breast)
1/2 cup onion chopped
1/2 red bell pepper chopped
1/2 a green or yellow bell pepper chopped
Diced tomatoes two or three small ones or 1 canned
1 can diced green chili's(sometimes I use a cup to 1.5 c Salsa or a can of Rotel)
Garlic powder aprox. 1 tbls
Seasoning salt 1 tsp
Chili Powder 1 tbls
Cummin 1/2 tbls

Brown turkey in a deep pan or pot. Add in the veggies and beans, add in seasonings to taste, bring to a boil then simmer for 20 minutes. We like this with corn chips or tortillas, some grated cheese and possibly a dollop of sour cream. Yummy goodness and Gluten Free.

Happy Eating!

Saturday Corporate Prayer=Family

A brisk cool Saturday evening, the sun is shining in Corvallis Oregon which is a gift. Dozens make their way down the gravel hill to the barn converted chapel. Greeted by familiar faces, chairs in circles, and the smell of carpet and wood. As seats are found the emotion of the place is overwhelming. This is a place where hearts are stirred, confession is made, God speaks to His people, decisions are confirmed, battles fought and won.

Photo by Bethany Canfield

This is prayer and we are no longer strangers that have clocked hours in this room, for amidst the petitions and tears and repentance and praise, bonds have been formed, we became family.

In this room we are all equal and we are seeking with a singular heart, we are His. In this room we share truth, we share suffering, we share Jesus.

In this room we attempt to tread on holy ground removing the shoes of our hearts and crying out for the Spirit to flood in.

In this room we hear the exhort-er plead for truth to be revealed and sin to be confessed. We here the merciful ask for grace and hearts to be restored and we hear the compassionate pray for love to be pored out and the wounded healed. We hear the worshiper remember our God giving thanks for His goodness and blessing His name. We hear the fullness of the heart of God through His people and it is good.

The bulletin reads: Church Prayer Meeting. Some call it the boiler room, some say it is the heart beat or pulse of the church, but on Saturday evenings in a crowded chapel on a wooded hill in tiny Corvallis, we come together to meet our loving heavenly Father as a family.