What's For Dinner?

[Troubadour]

Sounds nice!

I've been working my way through my veggie cookbook lately. Last week I made a veggie moussaka, and a couple of nights ago I made a spinach and lentil pie, which I served with rosemary and sea salted roast potatoes and carrots. Both were delicious! I also make a leek, mushroom and lemon risotto, which has become one of my favourite dishes. If anyone would like the recipes, I can post them here. Just ask!

[TimothyBFan]

Those are definitely things my kids would love, especially the spinach and lentil pie. They eat spinach like crazy.

[Troubadour]

Here's the recipe for the spinach and lentil pie, incase you, Dillon or Katie want to try it.

Ingredients:

6oz (175g) red lentils
3/4 pint (450ml) water
1 1/2 lbs (750g) fresh spinach, washed and shredded
6oz (175g) curd cheese

For the sauce:

1oz (25g) margarine
1/2 oz (15g) wholemeal flour
1/2 pint (300ml) skimmed milk
sprig of thyme
bay leaf
1/4 tbsp grated nutmeg
salt and black pepper

For the pastry:

4oz (125g) wholemeal flour
pinch of salt
2 oz (50g) margarine
2-3 tbsp (30-40ml) cold water
1 tbsp (5ml) sunflower oil
1 tbsp (5ml) lemon juice

Method:

1. Place the lentils in the water and bring to the boil. Cook for about 15 mins or until the lentils form a soft purée. Beat well with a wooden spoon.

2. Lightly cook the washed spinach without extra water in a large, covered pan for 3-4 mins or until just wilted.

3. Mix together the cooked lentils, spinach and curd cheese.

4. For the sauce, melt the margarine in a pan and add the flour. Stir and cook for 3-4 mins.

5. Gradually pour on the skimmed milk, stirring constantly, and bring the sauce to boiling point.

6. Add the herbs and nutmeg, then simmer for 3-4 mins. Season well.

7. Mix the sauce with the lentil and spinach mixture. Spoon the filling into a lightly greased overproof dish.

8. For the pastry, mix the flour and salt together in a large bowl. Rub in the margarine until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Mix together the water, oil and lemon juice. Sprinkle onto the flour mixture. Quickly draw together to make a soft dough. Wrap in clingfilm and chill for 20 mins.

9. Roll out the pastry and use for the top. Prick well and brush with some beaten egg. Bake in a preheated oven at Gas Mark 4, 400F, 200C for 25-30 mins.

[MikeA]

There are 47,000 ways to eat tomatoes. I've experienced 27,653 i the past month! Love 'em. Verna planted 6 plants (one an heirloom) and all are producing! Yum-Oh!

[TimothyBFan]

Anybody with to many tomatoes, I have a fantastic ketchup recipe!! It's my Mom's and the best!

Thanks Lou! Will give it to kids and see what they come up with.

[Troubadour]

You're welcome, Willie. Hope they enjoy it!

I made a vegetable hot pot tonight with cheese triangles (like dumplings or scones, with cheese and chives.) It was yummy, although I burnt my poor little finger!

[MikeA]

I think tomatoes are the one food that I'd never get tired of. I cannot think of any way tomatoes might be prepared that I wouldn't like them. I used to get in trouble when I was a kid. My Mom and Dad had a large garden and depended a lot on it for food...times were tough back then. I'd go out into the garden and eat tomatoes straight off the vine! But I got in trouble for doing the same thing with watermelon and cantaloupe too!

As good as these tomatoes are, they do not hold a candle to those grown my my Uncle in Little Rock, Arkansas though. I don't know how he prepared his soil or what variety of plants he grows, but they are the reddest and sweetest that I've EVER eaten.

[Prettymaid]

Troub, I didn't realize how good of a cook you are! Your recipes sound delicious, especially the risotto. As far as the lentil pie, it sounds delicious too, but I'm not going to make any pastry dough.

[Troubadour]

Well, I've been cooking for a while, but I've only started trying different dishes and pushing myself these past couple of months. I really enjoy it. The spinach and lentil pie was actually my first time making pastry! I was very impressed (and relieved) with how it turned out.

I'll put up the leek, mushroom and lemon risotto recipe soon. It is DELICIOUS!

[Brooke]

Troub, I didn't realize how good of a cook you are! Your recipes sound delicious, especially the risotto. As far as the lentil pie, it sounds delicious too, but I'm not going to make any pastry dough.

Pm, you can buy Pillsbury pie crusts in the dairy case, pre made. It's really good-nearly like homemade! They come in a roll, two per box. I was always a stickler for homemade pie crust, but these have won me over and are sooooo much easier.

I've never had a lentil or risotto. What's it like?