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| Several fabulous Christmas gifts pictured here: bowls, blender & pepper grinder in the background. |
I'm not even going to try to apologize for the looooong absence this time. It's obvious: I am just not capable right now of keeping up as much as I had hoped. I'm okay with that. Hell, I have to be. I'm in school full-time, working full-time, keeping up with my life as best I can and plus trying to share my culinary adventures??? Oh, and I've started sewing and had Christmas present making to get through, plus buy a "new to me" car. Right. So I am busy. And sometimes, sometimes I just don't have time to blog about what I've cooked-- or, uh, even time to cook for that matter!
Right. So, here we are in 2012. And no, I'm not making a promise to blog more regularly. As just noted, that would be futile at this point. I'm just going to post when I do and then eventually there will be enough populated where it won't matter- anyone who happens upon the blog should be able to find at least 1 thing they'd like to cook, read, make, or do. Right? Yes.
Okey dokey then...onward!
For Christmas, my eldest sister flew to Chicago and we piled in my car with my two dogs and drove to Florida, back from where my sister had just flown, back to my hometown. It was awesome. We did the same thing, only reverse, coming back. Again, awesome. The whole time I was home I had an amazing time. I love my family so much and cherished each moment I had with them. And, AND, I was able to cook for them a few times, too. (I am not writing about that now, though, since that was cooking for more than one- I'll make a "cooking for many" section someday.)
For my Dear Santa list, I had asked for single serving baking dishes, like those you might make casseroles in but for one instead of 8. And an immersion blender. My friend Lauren was so kind to lend me hers (which I still have :/ ) and I fell in love. Now I have my very own. These two new kitchen tools inspired the dish I'm going to share with you tonight.
And, check out the fabulous machine behind it or pictured above- it's just...just...just, perfect. The CuisineArt Immersion Blender. Love! Even though it has that beautiful guard so it won't scratch teflon or other types of surfaces, I am so grateful that last year I wrote to and Santa delivered a beautiful set of stainless steal pots and pans. I think, maybe, my kitchen may now be as complete as one could need without just being over the top.
Back to the begging casserole dishes. I had to choose only one; the decision was made after the meal was nearly finished and based solely on the one that could hold all that it made.
Potato Smothered Lentils, Inspired by the Classic Shepherd's Pie
Ingredients
1 C quartered Mushrooms (I tend to use crimini or baby bellas for everything!)
¼ C chopped Onions
¼ C chopped Carrots
¼ C chopped Celery
¼ C frozen Peas
½ tsp white pepper
1 tsp Thyme
1 dash (or more) Salt
1 tsp minced Garlic
1 fl oz Red Wine
¾ C chopped Potato
2 T fat free, plain Yogurt
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| Toaster Oven is still kickin' and it's perfect for this single serving dish. |
Make it
Cook lentils in water until soft. Cook potatoes in water for mashing. Heat a skillet with cooking spray, add onions, celery and carrots to soften then add garlic, and other spices. Stir 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat. When lentils are finished, add to the vegetable mixture and return to hi heat. Add wine and stir for 2-3 minutes to absorb. Transfer this mixture to an oven-proof single serving dish. Whip potatoes with yogurt and top the lentils with it. Then broil for a browned top finish. Serve with salad or another green vegetable and enjoy!
Serving Size: 1 individual pie
This one comes in just over 300 calories, but it is soooo filling and totally worth every bite!
Nutritional Info
• Servings Per Recipe: 1
• Calories: 320.5
• Total Fat: 1.2 g
• Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
• Sodium: 274.0 mg
• Total Carbs: 59.2 g
• Dietary Fiber: 15.9 g
• Protein: 17.7 g
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