Sunday, February 19, 2006
Lovin' The Lentils
Life is full of challenges - big ones, and little ones, and we all face challenge in our own unique way. Me, I like to take challenge head on.
Today, I faced what was, without doubt, the biggest challenge of my week.
Lentils.
Yes folks, you read that correctly...the devious, difficult world of lentils; the little green guys we can't seem to live with, but surely can't live without.
I was at the grocery store and saw them sitting there, a 1kg bag of the dried green lentils for $1.69. It hit me, like a brick in the gut, that I'd always been curious about lentils. First off, what kind of name is that anyways? Beans...well beans just seems right to me. 'Lentil' however always makes me think about the catholic tradition, Lent. Second of all, why are these things SO cheap? Do they have an unfairly bad rap? Are they undervalued? Underappreciated? Or, is 1kg of this stuff REALLY worth less than a coffee from tim hortons, or a ride on the TTC?
Most of these dried bean-type foodstuffs require overnight soaking(for the record, I always bought 1kg of dried red beans. more on this later). Lentils however do not. They can simply be simmered for an hour to release their wonderful flavours.
I ended up doing these guys up with some carrots and red peppers and some curry powder....in the future I'd think about adding diced tomatoes, onion, garlic and ginger...the curry powder I think is a key ingredient.
I really feel a sense of self accomplishment...I feel victorious...like I won the Battle of the Lentil.
Today, I faced what was, without doubt, the biggest challenge of my week.
Lentils.
Yes folks, you read that correctly...the devious, difficult world of lentils; the little green guys we can't seem to live with, but surely can't live without.
I was at the grocery store and saw them sitting there, a 1kg bag of the dried green lentils for $1.69. It hit me, like a brick in the gut, that I'd always been curious about lentils. First off, what kind of name is that anyways? Beans...well beans just seems right to me. 'Lentil' however always makes me think about the catholic tradition, Lent. Second of all, why are these things SO cheap? Do they have an unfairly bad rap? Are they undervalued? Underappreciated? Or, is 1kg of this stuff REALLY worth less than a coffee from tim hortons, or a ride on the TTC?
Most of these dried bean-type foodstuffs require overnight soaking(for the record, I always bought 1kg of dried red beans. more on this later). Lentils however do not. They can simply be simmered for an hour to release their wonderful flavours.
I ended up doing these guys up with some carrots and red peppers and some curry powder....in the future I'd think about adding diced tomatoes, onion, garlic and ginger...the curry powder I think is a key ingredient.
I really feel a sense of self accomplishment...I feel victorious...like I won the Battle of the Lentil.
# posted by Greg @ 8:05 PM 
