Logic Versus Laziness and Lentils

I was going to write yesterday, but my accidentally over-caffienated self did not want to write.  Yesterday me more like felt the need to talk incessantly to anyone who would listen, which was mostly my husband and my friend, Dina.  I made the best listener for myself, however, based on the fact that I was clearly listening and responding quickly.  While I was in this mood, I decided to test a recipe that I found very recently through a Pinterest pin that contained six meatless burger recipes.  The most appealing of these (to me) was the Lentil burger.  So last night I gave it a try.  It was delicious to say the least.  The link to these recipes is http://www.prevention.com/food/cook/meatless-monday-veggie-burgers/lentil-burgers-all-fixings.  I have never directly linked before but these recipes deserve it.  I loved the Lentil burgers and they loved me.  The recipe (as I did it because I didn't have certain ingredients and substituted others) follows.

Lentil Burgers

• 1 1/2 cups brown lentils, rinsed
• 6 cups vegetable stock (I used my homemade vegetable stock, directions below)
• 4 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1/4 red onion, diced
• 5 sprigs fresh thyme, roughly chopped
• 2 slices wholegrain bread, roughly diced or 1 1/2 cups freshly made breadcrumbs
• salt and pepper to taste,
• 2 eggs, lightly whisked
• 1-2 tablespoons whole-grain flour
• Other burger fixings:
• Whole grain Buns (duh)
• Tomatoes
• Avocado (this is practically required)
• Cheese (I highly recommend Land of Lakes white american)
• Spinach (or lettuce, I guess)
• Dill pickles because sweet is gross
• Mayo, Ketchup, Mustard

First, boil lentils and garlic in vegetable stock in a medium sized sauce pan for 20-25 minutes or until tender.

While that is cooking prepare your other ingredients.  Put the onion, bread, and thyme in a food processor to blend and put in a medium-large mixing bowl.  

When lentils are done, drain, and add to the bread crumb mixture.  Mix.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Add egg and flour (I added some extra bread crumbs just to be safe) until the mixture holds together.  Form into eight patties.

In a large skillet, coated with olive or vegetable oil, cook burgers for 3-4 minutes on medium heat and then flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes.

Assemble and serve!  They are delicious and nutritious.  Bonus: they are high in fiber and protein so they are well worth the less than 400 calories!

To make the vegetable stock, if you want to make it on your own, save the pieces of vegetables (herb stems, outer layers of onions, innards of peppers, cucumber and carrot skins and ends, celery and lettuce roots, etc.) you would normally throw out in an airtight bag in the freezer until you have enough to fill a large soup pan half way or so. Add 8-10 cups of water depending on how many vegetables you have and boil for 15 minutes.  Thoroughly strain and measure broth into freezer containers.  Label containers with how much broth is in each container.  I prefer 1-2 cups measurements but have done larger.  Freeze it until you use it.

Other fun...

Next came the fun of experimenting with different beauty pins I have found.  These pins seemed highly illogical but so convenient so why not give them a try?  The first had to do with drying nail polish quick.  The instructions were to spray Pam on wet nails, wipe it off, and then it would be completely dry.  Worth a try, right?  Nope.  Maybe it is because I used the Wal Mart brand and it was butter flavored, but I tend to doubt it.

The other one was even more illogical but if it worked, it would be so convenient and so much better than having to flat iron.  If you have seen my first blog, you know my hair is naturally curly and frizzy.  That is why this pin was of so much appeal.  ...Don't judge me.  The directions were to add two tablespoons of brown sugar to one cup of water, mix and put in a spray bottle.  Spray onto wet hair and let it air dry.  Your hair will be straight, right? No.  Tasty and controlled as it might be, my hair is not straight.  BTW, if you want your hair stiff, this definitely works for that.  It was not the easiest thing to pull it into the ponytail you see in that picture. 

In conclusion, my response to these two Pinterest finds can only be exemplified by grumpy cat.

Superbowl Snacks and Drain "Un"clogger

Yesterday was the Superbowl and the stores were packed with people going in for last minute chips and soda and all other sorts of junk food.  In spite of my unwillingness to participate because my favorite team was knocked out in the conference championship games, I decided to get festive and make some dip, guacamole, and fries.  Oh, and put some fruit by it to make it look healthier, of course.  All three of the recipes were inspired or created by friends of mine, but have been modified to fit my taste.  

The first of the three was the guacamole that my Mom and my mother-in-law inspired.  My Mom inspired it in the way that she used to make an avocado salad that I loved and my mother-in-law in the seasonings.  (Just a note, today was my mother-in-law's birthday.  She was an amazing woman and we miss her dearly.)  Anyways, the recipe is as follows (beware, I cook a lot of things to taste, so you will want to make sure that you taste the guac as you season to make sure you like the way it is turning out).

Moms-Inspired Guacamole

• 2 Ripe avocados (Make sure they are soft, but not mushy)
• 7-10 cherry tomatoes, diced into small pieces
• 1 medium green onion, chopped
• 1/2 bunch of cilantro, finely chopped (I love cilantro, feel free to use less if you think that is too much)
• 1 TB Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 TB Lemon Juice
• Sea Salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste.

First, dice the avocados and pour into a bowl, add tomatoes, green onion, cilantro, olive oil, and lemon juice.  Use a fork to mash it all together.  I like it chunky so I mix everything together first and use a fork.  If you like it smooth, use a food processor to whip the avocados, olive oil, and lemon juice into a smooth mixture, then add the tomatoes, cilantro, and green onion.  After that, add the seasonings.  Go easy at first to make sure you don't overdo it.  This recipe is good for about four people.

The next recipe was introduced to me in High School by a friend of mine named Kelley.  She brought it to school and shared one day and I fell in love.  I couldn't get enough of it.  She told me how to make it and I have been making it for fun ever since.  I did add some garnish to it out of guilt of it being too unhealthy, but it remains pretty much unchanged.

Kelley's Famous Dip

• 2 cans vegetarian or fat free refried beans
• 1 16 oz. container of low-fat sour cream
• 1 taco seasoning packet
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (or Pepper Jack if you like it spicy) 
• 1/2 small white or vidalia onion, diced (about 1/4 cup)
• 7-10 cherry tomatoes, diced into small pieces (optional)
• 1 green onion, chopped (optional)
• Sliced black olives (optional)
• Chopped avocado pieces (optional)
• Coarsely chopped cilantro (optional)

Spread beans in a casserole dish so that they are about 3/4-1 inch high.  I use my 2 1/2 quart oval casserole dish.  Sprinkle half of the diced white onion over the beans.  Next, in a small mixing bowl, blend the sour cream with the taco seasoning.  Use a spatula to smooth it over the beans in a nice even layer.  Sprinkle the rest of the onion on top.  Next, add the cheese in an even layer on top of that.  Sprinkle the tomatoes, green onion, black olives, avocado, and cilantro over the top and serve.

The last recipe was inspired by my Mom who made "healthy" fries in the oven.  I modified it and consequently made it less "healthy" and less effort.  They are absolutely delicious and are easily modified.

Oven Baked Fries

• 6 White or Red potatoes, sliced into about 3/4 centimeter thickness, and then sliced into 3/4 centimeter width.
• About 1/4 cup light Olive Oil
• About 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/2 TB Italian Seasoning
• 1/2 TSP Black Pepper
• Sea Salt

First, wash and slice the potatoes.  Mix oil, melted butter, italian seasoning, and pepper in a medium sized mixing bowl.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Add about 1/4 of the fries to the bowl and coat the fries in the mixture.  Take the fries out and spread them out on a cookie sheet.  Continue coating the fries in the mixture (1/4 of a time) and spread them out evenly on the cookie sheet.  Make sure they are spread out evenly, not stacked so that they can cook evenly.  Once spread out on the cookie sheet(s) sprinkle salt over the fries.  Bake in the oven for about 15-20 minutes until a fork goes goes in smoothly and edges of fries are starting to brown.

Note: Instead of half oil, half butter, you can use 1/2 cup oil or 1/2 cup butter.  I do half and half to cut down on the amount of butter I use, but still get that nice buttery flavor.

DIY Drain Unclogger

Recently, I have found myself with a slow shower drain that is getting pretty annoying.  Because I don't like going to the store, I decided to look up a DIY drain unclogger that I could make myself and use.  Sadly, it didn't work for me but it might work for you.  As I said, I found it on Pinterest, but the link was broken so I had to rely on the picture caption the pinner put on it.  It said to pour 1/2 a cup of baking soda down the drain, then 1/2 cup of vinegar.  Cover it with a wet washcloth and let it sit for five minutes.  After that, run hot water down the drain to wash it out.

Unfortunately for me, I couldn't get the stopper out of the drain (it's the kind you twist down to plug and twist up to unplug) so I had to push the baking soda down with my fingers.  It got clogged with baking soda then and I couldn't even finish putting it all in there.  I wasn't ready to admit defeat yet, however, so I poured the vinegar on it slowly so it wouldn't pool up and then put the washcloth on top. I let it sit and then turned on the hot water only to discover that it was a failed effort and the drain was still slow.  I might have to break down and actually use a chemical unclogger or get the hubs to snake the drain.  Oh well.  First recorded Pinterest fail.