28 October 2013

Pumpkin Lentil Soup

So I mentioned in my last post that I need to up my food game. So in an attempt to do just that, I tried a new recipe that I'd like to share with you! Since the seasonal debut of Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Latte, it seems like there's pumpkin or pumpkin spice flavored everything, right? Since seeing this recipe in the September issue of Better Homes and Gardens, I've wanted to try it. I doubled the original recipe and made it vegetarian, but if you want to see the original, you can go here. (You have to log into their site to view, FYI.)



Pumpkin Lentil Soup

1 medium or half a medium sweet onion, cut into wedges
2 yellow sweet peppers, seeded and sliced into strips
1 cup lentils, rinsed and well drained
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger (this is a rough estimate, as I used a heap)
2 tsp. curry powder
2 tsp. ground cumin
salt (the original recipe only called for salt and pepper as seasoning at the end, and I found it in desperate need of salt, so adding as it cooks is something I'd do next time)
48 oz. vegetable stock (I used a 32 oz box and a regular size can)
1 30 oz. can pumpkin puree

In a stock pot, cook onion, sweet pepper and lentils in oil over medium to high heat for 5 minutes, until onions just start to soften. Stir in ginger, curry powder, cumin, stock and pumpkin puree. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer, covered, for at least 20-30 minutes or until lentils are tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving. Garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg. Serves 8.

I ended up using a smaller can of vegetable stock in place of the second container of stock pictured. If you are serving a crowd, it would probably be fine to use two boxes. Your soup will just have a bit thinner consistency. 

Getting everything ready. 

Sauteing the onion, pepper and lentils. Make sure you rinse and drain the lentils before adding them to the pan with the onions and peppers. 



17 October 2013

Right Now

...Looking forward to one last event with my art crew in the old public museum in my town this weekend .

...Trying to decide between these two dresses from Free People. I'm kind of obsessed with some of their stuff right now. Dress one. (Very bohemian. I tried it on and it's lovely and made me feel all earth mother, but with an edge.) Dress two. (I love the cut and the colors and pretty much everything else about it!) Don't need either of them, but haven't been shopping in a bit, so feel like I can get one as a special treat! Plus, I can get 25% off on ShopBop until the end of the day - they for sure have Dress One.

...I am freezing. Despite being dressed in seasonally appropriate work attire (sweater, wool crop pants and tall boots) it feels like I'm running around in very little. Why it's so difficult to regulate the temperature in our office is beyond me. I wish they'd get it figured out though.

...Am on my lunch, at the desk because despite the fact that it's freezing inside, it's worse outside! Cold and rainy. I need to up my food game and start cooking regularly again.

...Only three more sleeps until my half marathon! I dropped out of training for this race last year and am really happy that my training has come together so I can run it. I've run this particular half three other times and this is the course where I did my marathon, so it's probably my favorite race ever! There's a really good chance for rain, which has me bumming, but I've been doing my runs all week in the rain, so what doesn't kill me will make me stronger and a bit soggier! Ha!

...Thought this was amazing when I read it this morning. How to be Naked.

...I need a true vacation. Isla Mujeres?

...Listening to this remix by Flume and need a dance party STAT!


What are you doing right now?!