Turkish Red Lentil and Rice Soup

Image
IMG_0335 lentils

Did you know that lentils are edible seeds from the legume family? They are well known for their lens shape and sold with or without their outer husks intact.Though they are  a common food staple in Asian and North African cuisines, the greatest production of lentils nowadays is in Canada.

For the most part, lentils have a number of health benefits. They are low in calories, rich in iron and folate and serve as an excellent source of protein. They  also pack health-promoting polyphenols and may reduce several heart disease risk factors and type 2 diabetes.

Lentils are often categorized by their color, which can range from yellow and red to green, brown or black. Red lentils are  are split and cook quickly. They’re great for making dal and soups and have a somewhat sweet and nutty flavor.  And the best part about lentils is that they are easy to cook and do not require pre soaking prior to cooking, making them perfect for soups and stews.

And with that being said, Turkish Red Lentil and Rice Soup fits the bill for healthy eating on a budget, especially during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

 

This simple, yet robust soup is rich with spices and tomato. It gets a pleasantly thick body from white rice and  red lentils, which soften and break down during cooking. The Aleppo pepper is a wonderful addition, lending a gentle heat. If you can’t find it, order online or substitute with an additional teaspoon of paprika and ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes. 

 

Serves 4

Ingredients:

For the Soup:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion cut into ½-inch dice (about 1 cup)
1 medium garlic clove, finely grated
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 cup red lentils
2 tablespoons long-grain white rice
3 cups water
2 cups vegetable broth
Kosher salt, to taste
For the Aleppo pepper oil:
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons Aleppo pepper
For Serving:
Chopped fresh mint leaves or basil leaves
Lemon wedges 

Directions:

In a large saucepan over medium, melt the butter. Once it has stopped foaming, add the onion then sauté until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add the tomato paste, paprika and cumin, then sauté for 1 minute.
Add the lentils, rice, water, vegetable broth and 2 teaspoons salt, then bring to a boil. Adjust heat to maintain a lively simmer, cover and cook until the lentils and rice are tender and broken down, about 30 minutes. Taste and adjust salt.
Meanwhile, in a small skillet over medium, heat the olive oil, swirling to coat the pan. Add the Aleppo pepper and cook until a few bubbles appear and the oil is bright red. Remove from heat and set aside. Serve the soup with Aleppo pepper oil drizzled over each serving.
Serve with mint or basil and lemon wedges.

Bourbon Iced Tea

Image

bourbon_sweet_tea

 

Is there anything more Southern than sweet tea and bourbon? Well, what if you were to mix these two together that make the  ultimate Southern sipper. Pretty ingenious, right? Well this cocktail is prefect for a Sunday brunch or just simply enjoying it on a porch on a summer day…..but remember you must be over 21 to enjoy this refreshing cocktail.

 

 

Makes 1 large pitcher, serves 6 – 8

Ingredients:
Mint Simple Syrup:
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

For the tea:
3 cups water
2 or 3 black tea bags of good-quality black tea, such as City Harvest Black Tea

For the Cocktail:
1 lemon, sliced into wedges
1 lime, sliced into wedges
1 orange, sliced into wedges
1 cup Woodford Reserve® Bourbon
Orange slices
Ice cubes, for serving
Fresh mint sprig, for garnish
Lemon wheels, for garnish

Directions:
For the mint syrup: Combine the sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook until the sugar has melted. Stir in the mint and let steep 30 minutes. Strain the mint leaves and set aside.

To make the tea: Combine the water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Pour the mint syrup into a large jar. Add the tea bags to the jar and let steep for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how strong you want your tea. If you like your tea very strong, leave the bags in the tea for 8 to 12 hours or overnight in the refrigerator, if desired.

Remove the tea bags and add the lemon, lime, and orange wedges. Pour in the bourbon. Cover the jar and chill.

For the cocktail: Rub the orange slice around the rim of highball glass and fill with ice. Pour the cocktail over the ice and garnish with the mint sprig and a lemon wheel.

A note on serving: Avoid adding ice directly to the pitcher, as it will dilute the cocktail.

Waffles with Peaches and Pecan Praline Sauce

Image 1 Comment

Image result for waffle peaches pecans

 

Let me tell you about this dish…..With just one full bite off the fork, you will have thought that you have died and gone to waffle heaven with a taste of the South in your Mouth! It’s a perfect dish to serve for brunch during the month of May, as we continue carrying on a Kentucky theme. 

 

Serves 4

Ingredients:
For the Pecan Praline Sauce:
1 cup packed light brown  sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
3 ripe peaches, halved, pitted and sliced

For the Waffles:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
Rounded 1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 cup whole milk
1 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons pure cane sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
Nonstick spray or melted unsalted butter, for waffle iron
Confectioners’ sugar, for garnish
Sprigs fresh mint, for garnish

 

Directions: 
For the sauce: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the light brown sugar, butter and salt. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Whisk in the cream and cook for an additional minute, continuing to whisk. Remove from heat and stir in the pecans and peaches. Keep warm over a double boiler.

For the waffles: Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cardamom and in a large bowl. Whisk together the milk, sour cream, butter, cane sugar, vanilla and eggs in a medium bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and whisk until just combined. Let rest for 10 minutes.

Preheat a waffle iron and lightly spray with nonstick spray or brush with butter. Add about 1/2 cup of the batter per waffle. Close the lid and wait until the steam has stopped emerging from the cracks of the iron, about 4 minutes.

Serve the waffles with the toasted pecan praline sauce, dust with confectioner’s sugar and garnish with a sprig of mint.