crappy week

thank goodness for dark chocolate and friends with bathtubs.

A reason why I love CBC

Where else would I hear about the "Dance your PhD" competition? Are there any volunteers for portraying either Lens or Colletotrichum? Apparently the competition is going global this year! Maybe we will have to include the event as part of the banquet during our upcoming symposium …

An exciting day

Today I discovered:
1) My lentils have screwy genetics. I was starting to get a little bored with my project, but this discovery has re-triggered my interest!

2) I love playing mid-fielder in soccer. I am not very good at it (yet) and really need to increase my endurance to play the position effectively. I shot directly on net 3 times tonight. Although none of the shots resulted in a goal, I was pretty proud of myself. I hope I have the chance to try the position again soon.

On another note, do you ever have one of those days when a certain word looks really curious? Today that word for me is interest. I remember the word ceiling once seeming quite strange to me as well.

Lentils are catching on!

A friend told me today that she was inspired by the Oatmeal Lentil Chocolate Chip cookie recipe, so I thought I would post another favourite!

Spicy Lentil Soup

2 tsp olive oil
2 chopped onions
3 cloves of minced garlic
-cook in a large saucepan over medium-high heat about 2 minutes until softened

2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
-stir into cooked onion and garlic

2 tbsp all-purpose flour
-stir in till combined

7 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups dry red lentils
2 tbsp tomato paste (I usually use a whole small can)
-stir in and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat, simmer for 25-30 minutes or until lentils are tender

1 can evaporated milk (I usually use regular fresh milk)
Salt and black pepper
Chopped fresh cilantro
-gradually stir in and reheat over medium low until just heated through, take care not to boil
-to make more spicy, add more cayenne pepper

Lentil New Year

Due to the abundance of lentil-based recipes I cooked for New Years, the event was coined a 'Lentil New Year'. I thought I would share my new favourite lentil-based recipe with the whole world. I originally found the recipe on a SPG brochure. There are lots of great lentil recipes on their website, including another New Year's favourite, 'Lentil Pizza Squares'.

Oatmeal Lentil Chip Cookies
¾ cup of margarine or butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 ½ tsp vanilla
¾ cup lentil puree*
1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
½ tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup chocolate chips

*To create puree, blend well cooked lentils in a food processor or blender adding small amounts of water if necessary

• Pre-heat oven to 190oC (375oF)
• Cream together sugar and margarine. Add egg and mix until just blended. Add vanilla and lentil puree and mix until blended.
• Sift flour, salt and soda together. Add dry mixture 1/3 at a time to wet. Mix until just blended.
• Add oats and chocolate chips. Blend lightly.
• Drop 1 tsp portions onto a greased cookie sheet and flatten with a fork.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Yield: 36 servings