Vegan Dump Dinners - Lentil Soup (Oil Free, Gluten Free)

Vegan Dump Dinner - Lentil Soup

In Orthodox homes, Lentil Soup is the classic dish to serve during Lent. I always say that that's why they're called "Lent"ils. But no one believes me ; ) 

However they got their name (the real story is some boring thing about how they're shaped), they're traditionally served on the first day of fasting seasons (such as Great Lent and Advent), as well as on other days of strict fasting, like Holy Friday or Christmas Eve. This recipe is Oil Free - so it is perfect for those occasions. 

Of course, during Lent we have a lot of services to go to, and our main focus is not supposed to be food and cooking. Which makes Lent the perfect time for "Dump Dinners." 

Most dump dinners (including this one) can easily be thrown into a gallon zipper bag or plastic food container, and put in the freezer with ten minutes or less time investment. The night before you want to prepare it, put the bag or box in the fridge to thaw. The day you want to eat it, dump it in the Crock Pot or Slow Cooker - and a few hours later you have dinner all ready and waiting for you when you come home from Church : )

This is my own recipe - designed from scratch (tho this is its first year as a Dump Dinner). I've been making it for about 30 years, and it is one of my most requested by the extended family. Most of the family loves it. My daughter, however, will be happy to work out a deal - especially if, like Esau, you'd like to sell your birthright for a bit of Lentil Stew ; )

Cooking this one takes 4 hours on high. So, if you plan to come home at 7:30, put it on to cook around 3 or 3:30.

Lentil Soup Dump Dinner

Put ingredients in Gallon Freezer bag or Box

1 Pound Bag of Lentils, Rinsed and Sorted (no need to cook before freezing)

1 Bag Frozen Mirepoix Mix OR 1/2 cup each Onion, Celery and Carrot (more to taste)

2 teaspoons Minced Garlic  (I use the kind from a jar sold in the produce section of the grocery)

1 Bag Frozen Chopped Spinach

1 Can (15 oz) Chopped Tomatoes with their liquid

1 teaspoon Dry Mustard

1 teaspoon Dry Ground Ginger

2 teaspoons Salt (more or less to taste)

Label Bag & place in Freezer (note: I don't add liquid till cooking time to save freezer space)

The day before using, put in refrigerator to thaw

Vegan Dump Dinner Lentil Soup - ready to Freeze

 

To cook: Put in large slow cooker or crock pot with 8 cups water (tap temperature). Cook on High 4 to 4 1/2 hours. 

We like this dish three ways in our family:

1. As prepared, with Crusty Bread and Fresh Veggies and Olives for garnish, 

 

Lentil Soup with Olives

2. Blended, with Wine Vinegar added at the table; or 

Blended Lentil Soup - Just add Wine Vinegar

 

3. Over Spaghetti Noodles the next day. 

 

During Non-Fasting Seasons, or if you have a family member who doesn't fast, it's also delicious with Shredded Cheddar Cheese over the top - just starting to melt.

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Mediterranean Primavera Bake

 

Mediterranean Primavera Bake

This delicious combination of Veggies, Cheese and Eggs is easy to make, and delightful to eat.It doesn't require precise measurements of veggies or cheese, but can be thrown together according to your tastes.

The combination of zucchini, tomatoes, olives, cheese and oregano gives it a bit of a Mediterranean twist.

If you love Tomatoes, and hate Black Olives, you're free to add more tomato and leave out the olives. Likewise, if you dislike onion, just omit it.

The idea is to layer about 1 inch of vegetables into the dish, then about a cup or cup and a half of cheese, and top with blended egg mixture. 

If you'd like to make this in advance, dish can be assembled the night before covered, and stored in the fridge. The next day, uncover and bake when you're ready. It's a great dish when you plan to have friends over for brunch.

This is how I make it.

Mediterranean Primavera Bake

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

 Grease a square glass baking dish

 In the baking dish, Layer

2 Sliced Zucchini 

2 Roma Tomatoes, diced

1/4 small onion, cut in thin crescents

6 Black Olives, Sliced

1 teaspoon Oregano

 

Mediterranean Primavera Bake - Layer Veggies in Dish

 

Top with

1  Cup Shredded Mozzarella

1/4 to 1/2 Cup Cubed or Crumbled Feta 

Mediterranean Primavera Bake - Veggies Topped with Cheese

Then Blend:

3 Eggs

1 1/2 Cups Milk

3/4 Cup All Purpose Baking Mix (such as Bisquick or Great Value Brand)

1/2 teaspoon Salt

A few grinds Black Pepper

Pour Blended Egg Mixture gently over veggies and cheese in dish - the mixture usually just comes to the top of the veggies & cheese.

Mediterranean Primavera Bake - Veggies Topped with Cheese and Egg Mixture

Put dish in preheated oven and bake till golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes.

Remove from oven, and wait 5 to 10 minutes before cutting and serving. (it will deflate a little at this point - no worries!)

 

Mediterranean Primavera Bake - Fresh from the oven

Serve with Crusty Bread and Salad, or with Muffins & Fruit.

Mediterranean Primavera Bake - serve in Squares

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Prayers for our Schools

My Grandparents and my Mother, Circa 1940.

I've been sorting through the effects of my beloved, late Grandparents. My Grandfather was a Teacher,
Principal. then Superintendent of Public Schools. My Grandmother was a High School English Teacher, who served as a "Full Time Substitute" - generally filling in for a year at a time for colleagues on maternity leave or sabbatical. Grandma, of course, was also a Mother, so took on less professional responsibility outside the home than Grandpa did. When my Mother was young, Grandma had a home kindergarten (public kindergartens had not yet become commonplace), so that she could give full attention to the care of her young daughter.

Both were dedicated, professional educators with Master's Degrees. They were also devout Christians who taught Sunday School.

They served from the 1920's to the 1960's - during most of their tenure, Prayer and Bible Reading were a normal part of Public School life. 

These are two prayers I found in their papers:

Thou Only Wise God, Our Saviour with Whom are all the treasures of heavenly understanding, illuminate our schools with the light that cometh from above; that those who teach may be taught by Thee, those who learn may be led by Thy Spirit; and grant that by the increase of knowledge, that truth may be confirmed, and Thy Glory manifest. 

 And

 May our Lord Jesus Christ be near us to defend us, within us to refresh us, around us to preserve us, before us to guide us, behind us to justify us, above us to bless us. Who liveth and reigneth with the Father and the Holy Ghost, God for evermore. Amen

 

I hope these prayers are a blessing to your school, whether it's a public school, a private school, or like ours, a homeschool.  

Please, while you're praying for your own school, also pray that our Nation may faithfully follow God.

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