PoMo Golightly

A Recipe: Lentil Stew

As a vegetarian, I mistakenly thought that the crockpot's use for me was limited to yogurt and fruit butter making.  Oh, how wrong I have been!  

Wednesday morning I used the crockpot to make the lentil stew recipe I've been making for years on the stove.  I felt smug all day knowing that dinner was already made, and after simmering away for eight hours, the stew had that delicious second-day-flavor-melding goodness that makes soupy leftovers so wonderful.

Why the Cholula?  It's my topping of choice for this recipe.  I might just make the stew as an excuse to go crazy with the hot sauce.

Want to make some Cholula Vehicle Lentil Stew? Here's the recipe, from Woman's Day's February 16, 1999 issue:

1.5 cups dried lentils

3 cups water (I sub veggie broth when I have it in the house)

3 cups (ish) of 1" cubed butternut squash (I use frozen when I'm feeling lazy)

2 cups marinara sauce (your own if you have it on hand, or jarred if you don't mind it)

8 oz. green beans trimmed and cut in half 

1 medium red bell pepper cut in 1" chunks

1 large potato cut in 1" chunks

3/4 cup onion, chopped (I mince half an onion and don't measure)

1 tsp garlic, minced (I don't measure; I just add a few minced cloves)

1 Tbsp olive oil

1.  Mix lentils and water in crockpot.  In a large bowl, mix remaining ingredients except olive oil, and place on lentils.

2.  Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours or until veggies and lentils are tender.  Stir in the oil.

My addition: slather with Cholula.

I debated posting the recipe and finally eased my mind by researching copyright protection for recipes.  

If it is snowy where you are, try this out.  It really sticks to your ribs!  I'd love to hear what you think if you make it!    

Cookies!

Take a little of this...

Some of that...

To make these...

And end up with these:

I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday...if you don't celebrate Christmas, enjoy the weekend!  Remember, there is still time to donate to my colleague's project and enter my contest.

Joy to the world!

Joe and Jennie May

 After blueberry picking on Saturday, I swung by for a quick visit with my parents.  As I was about to leave, my mom remembered something she wanted to give me.  She handed me this picture and said, "Now who does this look like?"

Mom figures this was taken circa 1930.  Joe and Jennie May were married in 1925, but they didn't have children for about ten years.  My gramp would have been about 22 and my gram about 24 in this picture.  Aren't they adorable? 

Edited to fix spelling!!

Now, Day 2

 There is not much nicer on a balmy early summer day (or late spring if you like to be precise) than a ride on the bike path that leads to an adorable cafe, breakfast at the cafe, and a ride home.  With the girls for good company, of course. (Africa bike on the left.)

Now, Day 1

Now, today, marks my "real" first day of summer, to be filled with projects that get neglected during the school year. One of the most important ones is to stretch out in the sun and savor the beauty around me.

Trece de Mayo

Back in the day, I didn't do much cooking.  My ex-husband is a talented cook, so I generally stayed out of the kitchen, unless there was baking to be done.  I did have a few ace-in-the-hole recipes, though, and tonight I made one of them: bean burritos.  Blogless Sara taught me how to make this some time in the 90s, and I suspect it has changed quite a bit since then.  It's almost too easy to bother writing about, but I've had many happy times over this meal (does that make it a happy meal?), so I thought I'd share how I do things in case you feel like trying it for yourself.

Ingredients:

 2 cans red beans (I prefer Goya.  Use what you like.)

Shredded cheese (I was lazy and bought the pre-shredded.  Not economical.  I don't recommend it.)

Salsa (homemade is better.)

Green chilis (Ah, how I miss Albuquerque)

Tortilla (Mona has me convinced I should perfect homemade.  Just not tonight.)

Onion (I don't really have anything to say about the onion, but I felt I should add a parenthetical.)

Olive oil (see above)

Spices (I have my faves...cumin, cocoa, cinnamon, nutmeg, red chili powder...take your pick)

Directions:

Chop and sautee onion in olive oil.  Add green chili.  When onion starts to soften (a dash of salt helps the onion along), add the two cans of beans.  I don't add all of the liquid, but I do add some.  Go easy on the liquid; you can always add more if you need to.  After everything simmers together for a bit(precise, no?) mash the beans.  I use a potato masher.

 

Add your spices of choice and simmer, simmer, simmer.  The goal is to let the flavors meld a little bit and to get the bean mixture hot.  Use your judgement.  If you put in too much liquid, the simmering can help get rid of some of it.  Simmering is cool that way.

Build the Burrito:

 

Sprinkle on some shredded cheese, add a layer of bean mixture, and roll.  Lay the burritos gently in a 13x9 pan (I spray with olive oil).  Top all burritos with a little more cheese and some salsa.

 Bake in an oven heated to 350.  Or turn on the oven, put in the burritos and bake.  They don't get upset if the oven is still heating up.  

Since the beans are already hot, you only have to bake until the cheese melts.  You can also make these early in the day and pop them in the fridge until you're ready to cook them.  Just cook them for about 10-15 minutes so the filling heats up. 

I hope you enjoy these if you make them.  They are easily adapted to all tastes.  When I make them at my sister's house, my niece likes just cheese and my nephew likes no cheese.  And I think someone likes no onion.  Super easy to accommodate everyone's taste.

Shoe Sale

Sometimes a girl just has to admit to herself that the shoes she adores do not adore her back.  My first Malibrans in Wine (size 7.5) are a smidge small.  I wore them only three times, for short spurts.  Since I got them for a song, I'll pass the savings on to you. 

 Bring these babies home for $145 + shipping. Sold to my favorite librarian!

Last fall I picked up these sexy numbers (7.5) at Nordstroms. The heel height is just too much for me, though, so I'm letting them go. Here are a few views of these Franco Sartos, worn only once.
 

 I'm selling these lovelies for $65 + shipping.

If you're interested or have questions, email me at PoMoGolightly AT gmail DOT com.

Baseball

It's not the Yankees, but it sure is fun. I just had some crackerjacks while watching my first live pro game: Rockies vs. Padres.

Baby Got Bangs

 

Lo-Mob Saturday Morning

 A while ago I was messing around in the app store looking for a something new to amuse me.  I bought the lo-mob app, and I have not regretted spending one penny of the $1.99 it cost. I'm constantly amazed by the cool shots I can take with the iPhone, Hipstamatic, and now lo-mob.  I'm lusting for a new camera, and these apps are helping me to be patient while I save up and figure out what I want.  (Recommendations are welcome...I liked this one, but after handling it, I decided against it. Unless I get some good ideas for a superzoom, I may bounce up into DSLR land.  Thoughts?)

Anyway, this morning I pulled out my watercolors and made a little sketch of one of the potholders I crocheted. I'm participating in a round robin journal swap...well, one journal is going around, and the original writer will get it back in the end.  I enjoyed writing in it and decided to paste in my sketch, even if it is kind of lame.  The potholder was one of three that I finished.  I couldn't get the rest done in time for the awesome 2010 Potholder Swap, but I used colors I love, so I'm happy to have them in my kitchen!

On a different subject, the conversation about Anne Frank over at In Our Study is quite lively.  We'd love to have you join us!