Red Lentil & Artichoke Stew

This stew is delightful - a slight departure from the norm, without seeming too strange to less
adventurous palates. Our whole family enjoys this one, and, like most of my recipes, it is really easy to make.

It's great any time of year, as it is not too heavy for a Spring or Summer meal, but can be pleasantly warming during the cooler weather of Fall & Winter. 

I adapted this greatly from another recipe a few years back, but I cannot recall where I got the original recipe.

Red Lentil & Artichoke Stew
Sort, rinse well, and drain
1 1/2 cups Red Lentils (Split Masoor Dal)
Place in a large pot with
2 Cups Water
1 Cube Bouillon
1 Cup Chopped Onion (1 large Onion)
1 teaspoon Minced Garlic
2 teaspoons Ground Cumin
1 teaspoon Ground Coriander
2 Bay Leaves
2 Cans Chopped Tomatoes (not drained)
1 (15 ounce) can Artichoke Heart Quarters (OR 1 9-ounce bag  frozen)
Dash Cayenne
Simmer till lentils are tender, about 30 minutes.
Add to taste
Lemon Juice (about 2 Tablespoons)
Salt (about 1/4 teaspoon)
Pepper (about 1/4 teaspoon)

Serve with Green Salad & Crusty Bread


Red Lentil & Artichoke Stew in the Slow Cooker
For even easier preparation, prepare in Slow Cooker with pre-made Yachni Sauce from your freezer:
Place in Slow Cooker:
3 Cups Yachni Sauce, thawed
1 1/2 Cups Red Lentils, Rinsed well & Sorted
2 1/2 Cups Water
2 teaspoons Ground Cumin
1 teaspoon Ground Coriander

1 (15 ounce) can Artichoke Heart Quarters (OR 1 9-ounce bag  frozen)
Dash Cayenne
Cook on High, 3 to 4 hours, till lentils are tender

This is being shared at
In & Out of the Kitchen 
Healthy, Happy, Green & Natural
Virtual Vegan Potluck

3 Minute Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce

3 Minute Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce

My daughter's Godmother often has us over for dinner, and Spring Rolls are often a special little extra that she makes just for me when others are having meat. The other night, she sent us home with a nice box full. When I went to heat them to serve them for dinner tonight,
I discovered that I had no appropriate sauce. Nor did I have the Pineapple Juice that is a featured ingredient in the Sweet & Sour recipe I had on hand.

So, I did an Internet search, and from a recipe on Food.com (which was not vegan, nor did it quite match my tastes - but it was a great starting place), I created my own super-quick, no pineapple juice, microwavable Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce. It can easily be whipped up from ingredients that most homes have on hand most of the time. And, it was a big hit : )

This recipe calls for boiling a sugary liquid in the microwave. For that reason, you'll need a larger cup than you might expect for the amount of liquid (I used a largish microwavable teacup). You'll also want to use care not to spill the boiling liquid on yourself when removing it to stir it, etc.

A little of this goes a long way - the small batch here satisfied our small family & was sufficient for about a dozen Spring Rolls.


3 Minute Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce
Stir Together in large microwaveable cup:

1 Tablespoon Water

1 Tablespoon Catsup (or, Ketchup, if you prefer ; )

1 Tablespoon Soy sauce

3 Tablespoons Sugar

2 Tablespoons Vinegar (I used Rice Vinegar)

1 teaspoon Tapioca Starch (Or Cornstarch)

Microwave 30 Seconds, Stir, and microwave 30 more seconds, or till very bubbly. Stir. If needed, microwave another 30 seconds. Stir & Serve. 

Large Batch 3 Minute Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce
Stir Together in large microwaveable cup:

1/4 Cup Water

1/4 Cup Catsup (or, Ketchup, if you prefer ; )

1/4 Cup Soy sauce

3/4 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Vinegar (I used Rice Vinegar)

1 Rounded Tablespoon Tapioca Starch (Or Cornstarch)

Microwave 30 Seconds, Stir, and microwave 30 more seconds, or till very bubbly. Stir. Repeat 30 second increments, stirring each time the microwave stops, until the mixture is very bubbly. (Total cooking time should be less than 2 minutes) Stir & Serve. 

Note: If you have no microwave, this can be cooked in a small saucepan on the stove top. Stir it constantly until it boils - which won't take long. 

This is being shared on 
Penny Pinching Party 
In & Out of the Kitchen 

Moroccan Carrot Soup

Moroccan Carrot Soup

This is an everyday favorite soup in our house. It's filling, tasty, packed with nutrition & not packed with calories. A win-win sort of soup.

I like to have it as an appetizer course, a light meal with some bread, or even as a side dish (I can't be the only one who gets tired of salads and steamed veggies in the side-dish spot, can I?).

It's called "Moroccan" because it uses spices typical of that cuisine, not because the recipe itself actually comes from Morocco. 

It's easy to make a big batch, and freezes well in single portions so that you can have a nice bowl anytime the mood hits you!

Moroccan Carrot Soup
Simmer until fork-tender
2 pounds Carrots (I use a 2# bag of baby carrots for convenience, but you can also clean & chop regular carrots)
Water Just to Cover Carrots
1 teaspoon ground Cumin
1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
When carrots are tender, add
1 rounded Tablespoon Almond Butter
2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
1 teaspoon Salt
puree soup in pot with immersion blender
Taste - you may want to add a dash of sweetener here, if your carrots weren't naturally sweet enough.
Adjust seasonings (Salt & Lemon Juice) to taste
Add more water if needed for desired texture.

Serve.

I LOVE to garnish this one with Sambal Oelek, which is a wonderfully complex hot sauce with a relish-type texture. Use another favorite hot sauce if desired.  My little girl loves it with no hot sauce at all.

This is being shared at:
In & Out of the Kitchen
Virtual Vegan Potluck