Lentils

But not like the gross vomit lentils that Neil always makes on the Young Ones. Lentils are cheap, filling and delicious. They are also very nutritious. Here are a few recipes that we used to eat.

Hamburger Vegetable Lentil Soup

1 lb hamburger                          1 cup diced cabbage, celery, carrots 

5 3/4 cups tomato juice              1/2 cup chopped onion

1 cup washed lentils                  salt, pepper, bay leaf, garlic

4 cups water

Brown and drain hamburger in pot. Add liquids and rest of ingredients. Bring to a boil then simmer for 1 hour. 

Meatless Lentil Chili

5 cups water and 2 1/3 cups washed lentils. Bring to a simmer for 30 minutes.

Add:

1 can tomatoes or tomato sauce

chopped onion

1 1/2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp cumin, salt, pepper

Simmer for another 30 minutes. 

Cheeseburger Pie and Lentil Stew

Ahh cheeseburger pie. The food of Wednesday nights being in a rush out the door to Awana. This one and lentil stew! Here they are, oh the memories.

Cheeseburger Pie

1lb ground beef
chopped onion
1 cup shredded cheddar, jack, jalapeno cheddar jack or longhorn cheese
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup bisquik or jiffy mix (or homemade mix)

Cook beef with onion. Drain, salt a little. Add rest of ingredients, mix and dump into a pie plate. Bake for 25 minutes at 400 degrees.

Lentil Stew

3 tbs olive oil
1 chopped onion
1 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup or so thin sliced and quartered carrots
6 cups water
1 can vegetable broth or beef broth
1 cup dry lentils
1 can tomato paste
1/2 cup dry red wine
1 TBS italian herbs (oregano, basil, rosemary, thyme)
Sprinkle of salt. pepper
(1 lb ground beef cooked-optional)
grated parmesan cheese
In large pot, saute onion, celery, carrots in hot oil for 5 minutes. Add rest of ingredients (not the cheese). Simmer 40-45 minutes until lentils are tender. Ladle into bowls, sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Serve with baguettes, french bread and butter.