L is for Lentils!

I cooked lentils for the first time... exciting! Right?  Since working full time and having a baby... cooking anything intensive is out of the question.  One thing that I have found really helpful is to make something in a larger quantity that we can eat 2 or even three nights.  Quinoa is easy for this- which I have talked about before.  I wanted to find another option apart from Quinoa (which I love) which is fairly easy to cook, reheats well and is good for you.

We ate these lentils with a pork chop one night and with my weekly roast chicken another night.  They are tasty and hearty.  The husband enjoyed the lentils... but still prefers quinoa.

Here is the recipe I used.  It is an Emeril recipe from the Food Network website.

Ingredients

• 1/4 pound bacon, diced
• 1/4 cup small diced celery (I left this out as I don't like celery)
• 1/4 cup small diced onion
• 1/4 cup small diced carrot (bought the baby carrots in a bag and just cut some up)
• 1 (17.5 ounce) box green lentils
• 2 bay leaves
• 4 cups chicken stock (was out of chicken stock so had to substitute beef stock)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Place the bacon in a saute pan over medium-high heat and saute until bacon is crisp. Add the celery, onions, and carrots and cook until the vegetables are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the lentils and the bay leaves and cook for 1 minute. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 20 to 30 minutes, until the lentils are tender. Season with salt and pepper.

I am thinking I might have to try barley next ... now that I have conquered quinoa and lentils.  Until next time....xoxo

PS- Are you proud of me?  I finally got back to 3 posts a week.  Wish me luck that I can replicate next week.  Being a working mom is hard!!!

Q is for Quinoa!

So, it is Friday... so it is another recipe!  I have been trying to eat healthy and would like to be healthier!  Earlier this week I cooked quinoa for the first time.   What is quinoa?  As per Wikipedia....Quinoa (say KEEN-wah) is the wonder grain: high in protein, gluten-free, easy to digest, and quick to cook.


It is fairly easy to cook, but I think what makes it really good is what you add to it!  Here the recipe I went with, basically adapted from a Food Network recipe.   

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed well  (must get a very fine mesh strainer to clean/rinse the quinoa)
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley (I did not have any, so did not include.)
• 1/4 cup golden raisins
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 3/4 cups chicken stock
• 1/2 onion, chopped (this was my addition to recipe.  It added a lot of flavor.)
• Optional:  1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley (I did not have any, so did not include.)

Directions

Place the quinoa in a saucepan and cook over medium heat until toasted, about 2 minutes. Add 1 3/4 chicken stock (could use water instead, but I think stock as flavor)and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until the liquid is absorbed, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit, covered, about 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts in a skillet over medium-high heat, stirring, until golden, about 3 minutes; transfer to a plate. Add the olive oil, onion, and garlic to the skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring, until golden, about 2 minutes. Transfer the garlic to the plate, reserving the oil.

Fluff the quinoa with a fork. Add the pine nuts, garlic, onion, reserved oil, parsley, raisins, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper and toss.

I served it with pork chops and it was yummy.   Even the husband liked it.... he usually refuses to eat whole grains.  When I cook brown rice... he always cooks some white rice for himself.  Stubborn!

Get some quinoa... it is tasty and good for you!  Until next time...xoxo

B.....Good!

Want a good and good for you quick meal?  B.good is the answer.  Just recently the b.good Shakes van visiting my place of work.  They were giving away free banana strawberry shakes and they were AMAZING!  They were also giving away some coupons for free sweet potato fries.  I cannot resist me some sweet potato fries.  A few weeks ago me and a few friends ventured to b.good's  Brookline location to cash in our coupon and have a yummy lunch!

Here is the deal...it is all fresh, in season and local.  Get yourself a burger, turkey burger, veggie burger or chicken sandwich.  (They have salads too.)  Of course, if you get a burger, you must get fries and you can choose between regular and sweet potato.  You can get your burger with a huge variety of fresh toppings.  I had the regular burger with cheese, lettuce tomato, and avocado and cashed in my coupon for sweet potato fries.  It was a great meal.  I left too full for a milkshake.... maybe next time!

B Good has a bunch of locations including Brookline, Cambridge, Back Bay, Dedham, Hingham, Newbury Street, and Mass. Ave.  If you have not been.... go!  It is real food... fast and it is delicious!

Here is a very unflattering photo of me and I enjoying my b.good lunch!  

Love them sweet potato fries!

Go ahead..... B Good!   Until next time....xoxo