Lentils

There some things that I like to eat that Mr. J will not touch.  In fact if he even hears about them before the cooking begins he will fight and complain with all his might.  Lentils are one such food.  If Mr. J hears that word he immediately makes a face, and then a groaning sound.  Ultimately he will come up with something else to have for dinner to night and the lentils sit lonely in the pantry. 

I like lentils.  They are filling and healthy. Plus since we never have them they are a good break in the routine.  I decided that I was just going to tell Mr. J that I was making a special secret dinner and he was not allowed in the kitchen.  What he didn't know couldn't be come something else for dinner, right?
 

Lentils

Adapted from Ina Garten's Lentil soup

Ingredients:

1 cup lentils
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup diced yellow onions
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup medium diced carrots
1 24oz can diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon minced garlic (2 large cloves)
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp fancy mustard ( I used Tarragon Mustard from Stonewall Kitchen)
4 c water

2 chicken sausages
2 bacon strips

Directions:
In a large pot, cover the lentils with boiling water and boil  for 30 minutes. Drain.


In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat the olive oil and saute the onions, carrots, celery, garlic, salt, pepper, thyme, and cumin for 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are translucent and tender. Add canned tomatoes.

Add lentils and mustard.  Check the seasonings.

Meanwhile, heat chicken sausage and cook bacon.  Chop bacon and mix into lentils.

The bacon and sausage was suppose to encourage him to try the lentils.  He actually liked them and ate his plate serving.  Unfortunately, that was about all.  The two days worth of leftovers were all mine. 

 Some times a girls got to do what a girls got to do to eat well.