Posts tagged #savory

Sweet Potato, Baby Kale and Lentil Soup. Seriously AMAZING!

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This soup is SO special. Yes I love vegetables but this soup is so special not because of the wonderful veggies but rather because of the seasoning. It is VERY flavorful and intense, in a good way. This could go down in history as one of my favorite (non pureed) soups. My friend gave me this recipe from Pinterest and I switched it around a tad to make it my own.

 

Ingredients:

  • 3 medium sized sweet potatoes peeled and cubed 
  • 2 cups baby kale (you can use more if you would like!)
  • 1 cup brown lentils
  • 2 tomatoes (vine ripe if possible) chopped
  • 1 medium size onion diced
  • 1 1/2 TBS Turmeric
  • 1 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander 
  • 1/3 tsp cayenne pepper or more if you  like heat!
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tbs fresh ground ginger
  • 1 tsp salt (more to taste if you would like)
  • Pepper to taste (adding pepper increases the bio availability of turmeric- helping your body absorb more of the nutrients!) 
  • 6 cups vegetable broth 
  • 1 cup water

Directions

  • Heat the largest pot you have for 40 seconds over medium heat, then add about 2 tbs of EVOO or any other oil you prefer. Warm up oil for another 20 seconds then add in chopped onions and stir for 3 minutes.
  • Add in all the spices including the ginger. Stir for another 2 minutes.
  • Add in tomatoes and lentils. Stir for a minute then finally add in your sweet potato, 6 cups broth, and 1 cup water.
  • Bring pot to a boil, cover and reduce to low, letting cook for about 30 minute. 
  • After about 30 minutes add in your baby kale and let it cook for another 10 minutes.

Comment below and let me know how it goes! Did you make any changes to the recipe?

** If I am going to be eating/ serving all the soup right away I add in all the Kale while cooking (like the recipe says). BUT if I know that I will be reheating it and eating it for the next couple of days then I only add in some kale, and right before I heat up the soup to eat the next day I will add in more fresh baby kale! ALSO, if you do not have kale feel free to use baby spinach, or regular Kale just cut up small.

 

 

Cooking a whole chicken. Excuse me if you "don't eat no meat!"

photo (58)

photo (58)

Today is the first time I bought and am going to bake a whole chicken; skin, bones and all.  I asked my facebook fans for advice and some chimed in with amazing recipes and tips:

  • " I like stuffing mine with lemon and thyme and roasting with root veggies around it."
  • "Use plenty of fresh herbs and put lemons on the bottom of the pan. Also, I cook mine at a higher temperature to get it crispy. 400 degrees for an hour."
  • Simple recipe where they do not use butter:  Her advice "watch out for your smoke detector b/c of the high temp... Also get twine and truss it! (this video is helpful)"
  • Herb Roasted Chicken Recipe
  • "Boil it and make chicken noodle soup. Its easy, just labor intensive. "
  • " I like to have a thin layer of water on the bottom of the pan too - keeps it moist  and baste, baste, baste!"
  • "Stuff it with lemon. Put sea salt, fresh ground pepper and a little bit of olive oil on top."
  • "I was scared the first time I cooked a whole chicken too but it's super easy. I use Ina Garten's recipe. Also I don't eat the skin (and I'm guessing you don't either) so I cook it breast side down and it stays super moist!"
  • Roast Chicken Magic, their secret is Citrus!

I have decided to cook my chicken tomorrow because I will not get home until 7:30 tonight and my chicken will not be ready until 8:30pm, which is kinda late for me.  Because I have the chicken today, but am not going to cook until tomorrow, I am thinking about brining the chicken in order to make it super moist. Have you ever tried this? Does it work?

I am looking forward to my adventure today when I brine, and tomorrow when I cook. I have no problem (usually) eating a nice cleaned chicken breast, but when it comes to touching the raw chicken it kinda grosses me out... anyone else?!  EW I am flinching just thinking about it. I have to over come my fear of raw chicken and cook it. I am going to cook it like a CHAMP!

One of my favorite movie scenes from My Big Fat Greek Wedding! Skip to 4:15 for the "eat no meat" reference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3N5V9ml2VU

Posted on January 2, 2013 and filed under food, entree, savory.