Sweet Lentil Chili

Tags

carrot, chili, lentils, squash, Zucchini

Tonight I filmed Chopped: Lubbock. 

In my head, of course.

Mystery ingredients:
Cooked Lentils
Zucchini
Squash
Carrots
Chili Powder

Okay, so it wasn’t that hard to figure out what to make, but I crafted dinner pretty easily with limited produce in my refrigerator.  This recipe shows taking many nothings and creating a scrumptious something.

Sweet Lentil Chili
Serves 4

 
Vegetables:
1/2 cup leftover squash
Large zucchini, chopped into large chunks
3 carrots, chopped (Yes, four are pictured, but I didn’t want to turn orange, so I put one back.  And, no, I didn’t peel them – so rebellious.)

 
2 cups cooked lentils (previously cooked, frozen and defrosted) (the best thing ever)

 
Broth of your choice and spices.

 
Heat 2 t. olive oil in a large pot and add vegetables, cooking a few minutes.  Next add 1/3 cup broth, turn heat to high, and cover pot with lid.  Mock pressure cooker status Simmer vegetables in liquid for 7 minutes, or until brightly colored and steamed.

Add lentils.  Gosh that was easy.

Spice time!

 
1 1/2 T Chili Powder

1 t Cumin 

 
1/2 t Cayenne

 
It was missing something, so I added about 1/4 t. Garam Masala.  This is the sweet in the Sweet Lentil Chili.

Simmer on low for 5 minutes.

 
At 30 minutes, I threw my hands in the air and declared victory.  Really, I think you could recreate this in 20 minutes and give Rachael Ray a run for her money. 

But first, freeze some lentils.

Freak Show Pumpkin

Tags

pumpkin

Yes, there is a freak show fair winning pumpkin in this post.  It’s unbelievably huge.

But, first, this week’s favorite posts from a few of my favorite blogs.

If I lived near Andrea, I would show up on her door step every day for an after-work snack.  These Pumpkin Whoopie Pies look delectable.

Kailey’s posts usually make me laugh and smile, but one in particular this week touched my soul.  She promised candid, but I think reader’s got a lot more.

Want more soul touching?  Read this series of posts about a topic that should be discussed more than it is – depression.  I’m looking forward to reading the happy ending.

These engagements photos are adorable.  We went out to the South Plains Fair, too, but I never pictured it as a location for a gorgeous photo shoot. 

My photos are little more food and animal oriented, though….

And if you’ve ever wanted to peek into the livestock + crop winners of the fair…

Yes, above is the winning pumpkin. That’s a really big ribbon, FYI.

I admit…I didn’t know peanuts were grown in soil.  It’s not like I thought they grew on trees, I just honestly never thought about it.  I like the idea of a peanut fairy better, though.

This is what your shirts probably made of.

If you guessed cotton, you are correct.

Lots of different produce entered in the fair.  I want a garden.

He gave llamas a bad reputation.  Wouldn’t look at my camera.

I tried to take this one home.  So friendly!  I didn’t have time to pick the lock because we were headed to the monkey show.  So goes life…

Once again, people were wondering why I was talking to the animals in baby voices…piglet was adorable!

This one however, was not.

I see an uncanny resemblance to Rupaul.

Source

Ridiculous fair games ensued….

Yes, I’m trying to launch a rubber frog onto a rotating lily pad. 

Nick won me a friend.  Just another fair prize to add to the collection.