i am just a dreamer wearing sensible shoes

something a little bit lighter today.

Do you love Carabbas sausage and lentil soup? I do, as far as I'm concerned it's the best thing on the menu and unfortunately when I get the chance to go there [like, once every few years?] they are always sold out or it's not offered that day.

Guess what? I found the recipe.



1 pound green lentils

olive oil
1 lb Italian sausage <-- dear god, someone please tell me where to buy *good* Italian sausage in NC
1 cup diced onion (about 1 large)
1 ½ cups diced celery (about 4 stalks)
1 ½ cups diced carrots (about 3-2 large)
1 ½ cup diced zucchini (about 1 small) <-- this is the secret, I would never have thought to put it in as I consider this a winter soup and that's not a winter veg
1 tablespoon minced garlic (2 large cloves)

2 teaspoons kosher salt <-- depending on your broth and sausage this could be entirely way the fuck too much salt. Use your taste buds to test
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried thyme

6 cups chicken broth/veggie broth/water/whatever
2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained

The Method that came with this recipe is shit. Here's mine or go your own way


brown the meat and drain the fat. While that's browning start cleaning and chopping veg. In the order of slowest cooking veg to fastest: carrots, celery, onion, garlic, zucchini

Saute slowest cooking veg in the pot first let them get hot before adding the next then proceed accordingly. Meanwhile pick through, rinse, and soak your lentils. When the saute is tender put the spices in. When that is smelling awesome throw in a splash of alcohol of some kind to de-glaze the pan, I used port. Then add your broth and drained lentils. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer. If you have a super awesome stove that may not be a big deal/time burner. It could take half an hour or so at my place :-( When the lentils are soft enough to eat but not *done* then add the tomatoes.

fun fact, if you put tomatoes in lentils too soon they will never get tender, the acid makes them firm up some

When all of that is bubbling together, add a handful of sausage. At this stage if you like to puree, puree. FOR GOD'S SAKE DON'T BURN YOURSELF. Leave enough chunks to suit your taste, *then* add the rest of the sausage. If it's a little too meaty puree a bit more.

Baked Apple Pudding

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LOVE THIS STUFF.

I've been on a soup kick recently. Normally on Sundays I grill up some chicken and make a salad and have that to eat Monday - Thursday. The first day the temperature tipped below 67 I decided I'd rather have a hearty bowl of soup and salad with some crusty bread instead.

The base of these soups can be either chicken broth, vegetable broth, beef broth, or milk based depending on what you're after flavor wise or nutrient wise. I usually stick to vegetable broth if I'm going to have protein in some other form but if I'm not or feeling like I need a shot of
iron I use chicken broth [i'm not a big fan of beef broth]. I've posted some oo these before

( butternut squash soup )

( Red French Onion Soup )

Today's recipe YUMMYYUMMYUMMY

( Chipotle Chicken and Tomato )

4 cups vegetable broth
12 ounces butternut squash, peeled, cored, cubed
1/2 large vidalia, roughly chopped
1/2 small apple, peeled, cored, cubed
salt to taste
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp black pepper

In a large covered pot bring broth, squash, onion, and apple to a rolling boil. Turn heat down to low, partially uncover and allow to simmer until squash is almost tender. Add spices continue to cook until squash is tender.

Puree soup in pot using immersion blender, or in small batches in food processor/blender.

Simple. Yummy. Healthy.

ZERO POINTS

ETA

FOOTBALL!!

Also, in my neck of the woods ASU and USC do not mean the same things the rest of you think they mean

Also, I offered to share my soup with Memaw and since she had never heard of this kind of soup, she refused

Also [channels Palin] Go Steelers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Panthers RULED so hard I watched a different game

Also [ha ha! I may be buzzed on Sunday night] Hendricks Gin Rules my WORLD

And last but not least I LOVE MY CAT and sometimes, every once in a while [like maybe once a week] I think she loves me.

WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK JUST HAPPENED????

My scream just frightened my cat