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.