In recent weeks, when I was feeling ‘under the weather’, on account of my cold/cough, my desire to eat and cook was as lacking as my tastebuds. Now that I am all better, my appetite and interest in cooking have returned and, yesterday, my meal seemed like a feast; it tasted so good!
First up, we had brown lentils and mushrooms in pasta sauce. This is a dish I created using a combination of different ideas and recipes. It is an authentic mish mash rather than anything elegant with a specific and identifiable origin. Here is a small sample of the finished product.
As usual, my recipe for this dish is fairly carefree and easy but, for those of you who are interested, here is an outline of the ingredients and cooking method: Roughly chop one onion, 2 garlic cloves, 1 celery stick and 1 carrot and place in the blender and blitz. Place a little olive oil in a large pan and add blitzed mixture to the pan. Cover and let mixture sweat for about 10 minutes. Add a half teaspoon of dried oregano, and about a half teaspoon of salt and a cup of canned, chopped tomatoes in thick juice. Stir and cook covered for a couple of minutes. Add one tin/can of drained and rinsed brown lentils (about 400gm) and stir. Then add one bottle of thick pasta sauce. I use Bertolli Five Brothers Pasta Sauce, large size, in the summer tomato and basil flavour. Stir again and cover and simmer gently for a few more minutes. Lastly add about 200 gm of quartered, button mushrooms and 3 Tablespoons of bulghur wheat. Cover and cook on low heat for another 15 minutes, or until the bulghur wheat is tender. Before serving add freshly ground pepper and 2 or 3 Tablespoons of cream to the pan.
The textures of the ingredients and the smooth richness of the sauce are wonderfully hearty on a winter’s night. I served the sauce on creamy mashed potatoes with steamed carrots and steamed broccoli stalks. And ,because the recipe makes a large amount, we will be having the sauce again tonight, but this time with polenta.
To follow the main meal, I made a scrumptious fruit crumble, using an absolutely excellent crumble recipe from blogger Valerie Davies; excellent because it is both delicious and makes a large amount (which means at least enough for two fruit crumbles in my house). For the fruit component of the dish, I used freshly sliced cooking apples and a good handful of less than perfect grapes which I blanched and peeled and sprinkled with lemon juice. The results were so good that I had to restrain myself from taking a third helping. Thanks Valerie 🙂
If you would like the recipe take a look Here.
While you are there, check out her other delicious recipe for Convent Eggs. http://valeriedavies.com/2013/07/13/the-real-dalai-lama/
I am sure it was the Convent Eggs that finally set my tastebuds on the road to recovery. Food has been tasting superb, since the day I made those delicious eggs.
Finally, what’s a feast without something for the eyes as well. I am so thrilled to have these three lovely books on my table today. The two Virago books arrived by post this morning, via Amazon. The third book, With Bold Needle and Thread by Rosemary Mcleod is on loan from the library. It is subtitled Adventures in Vintage Needlecraft, and so it is, so it is; a very lovely adventure.
© silkannthreades
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Grrrrrr. Why did my like of this post days ago not post??? You know I like all your posts~
Goodness, now I am worried that some of my likes don’t register on other people’s blogs. But I know we like each other a lot 🙂
Rumer Godden!
Eggs and mashed potatoes and c h e e s e!
delicious.
(and thank you for the link to the convent eggs lady – that was an amazing story)
*wavingfromlosangeles*
_tg xx
Very delicious! And, Valerie is amazing.
Since I was a kid, my father drilled into me to go by taste – not looks when judging a meal. Three bites , not one, to make a valid decision. I’ll give these a shot.
Very wise 🙂
veggie comfort food, crumble and good books… sounds like BLISS to me! 😀 wonderful!
And I made so much of it that I am still enjoying it; talk about easy meals 🙂
Yummy!! I really enjoyed the feast!! Looks wonderful. Just recently, I have been looking into beans, barley, lentils. It is hearty fare and keeps me going all day long!
They really do. I have been eating bulghur wheat for breakfast, too; somewhat like this http://theberberediaries.wordpress.com/2009/12/27/recipe-kinche/#comments but mostly I stay with oatmeal porridge and occasionally cornmeal porridge with oj and yogurt on top. Ah, you can see my interest in food has returned 😀
That looks delicious, both and since it is hot here I would go for the delicious crumble. I haven’t done one in ages….. hmmmm
Summer time is a great time for a crumble; all those lovely fresh berries. YUM.
Exactly, just got new fruit in today ! Yummy! 🙂
It’s simply amazing how feeling ill can rob us of our joy in the simple things in life – namely food! What pleasure it is to try new recipes and enjoy delicious flavour combinations again after a ‘drought’ …
It is a great pleasure! It really is hard to keep oneself properly nourished, as the doctors order, when tastebuds are revolting (sorry! couldn’t help myself 🙂 ). Tonight I am experimenting with a new version of macaroni cheese; hope my tastebuds and my husband will be delighted 🙂
Yum!!
I will save some for you, of course.
Leftovers! My favourite! 😉
I’ve not read Rumer Godden’s books. Think I’ll read one of her novels soon.
She is one of my favourite authors. I hope you will enjoy her.
The lentil/mushroom combo with tomato sauce looks delicious and hearty. Being a vegetarian, I’m always looking for new recipes and this looks perfect for a cold, winter afternoon.
Glad to hear you are feeling better!
Thank you. Oh yes, this is a wonderful vegetarian recipe. I do eat meat, but very little now because I find recipes like this one are just so good and nutritious.
Glad you feel better, the dishes look sooooo good.
Thank you. I thought the cold/cough would never end !
It all sounds very good! Got hungry…and it’s still a few hours to dinner 🙂
That’s the trouble with posts on food; they whet the appetite at inappropriate times!
Woo Hoo!! So glad you are feeling better. I know that you had a really bad virus. This food all looks wonderful! Valerie’s blog is great also! Cheers to you~
Yes, it is bliss to be feeling better. Thanks for the Woo Hoo 🙂
Your post is so delicious and I am going to search for that needlecraft book in my library.
It is a very new book. I hope you can find it. I would love to have the wonderful collections that Rosemary McLeod has. Glad you found everything so delicious 🙂
So glad that you have recuperated and can “feast” again. One of my favorite pastimes is reading at breakfast. Happy recovery.
Reading at breakfast; now there’s an idea. I read the newspaper over breakfast coffee but that can be stressful rather than pleasurable.
So glad you enjoyed the food that much… can sympathise with the lack of appetite, still fighting flu this end.!!!…
Oh no, not you too! I can recommend your Convent Eggs 😀
Must try ! !!
Yes, so am very behind with all my blog-reading etc….
😦 but on the bright side, the blogs that you do manage to read will lift your spirits. You can sip them slowly like a lovely hot lemon drink.
yes! please tuck a bit of that in a ‘to go’ bag, por favor! the lentils and mushrooms in pasta sauce looks really nice!
Yes I thought it would be a wholesome sustaining meal for the voyage. 🙂
i’m starving, so yes, i’ll be feasting soon!
Hooray! I appreciate hearty appetites.