Sunday, January 27, 2013

Menu Planning & Vegetable Soup With Lentils


I am trying my best to keep up my weekly meal planning. This is week four. Read on for this week's menu plan.

Last week started with Monday's Vegetable Soup with Lentils. This is a old favourite that my husband and I began making many years ago. The recipe follows. What I really like about this soup is that it's simple - you throw in the ingredients and let it cook for an hour. That gives you time to make a salad, slice up your bread, pour a glass of wine and relax.


Next came Taco Tuesday. We had refried beans, salsa, Yves veggie ground round (ground beef substitute) and guacamole on hard tacos and wraps.


On Wednesday we had pasta with tomato and eggplant sauce. I removed some of the sauce before adding the eggplant and blended it up for the kids. They wouldn't go for chunks of eggplant. I quite liked it myself.

On Thursday we had breaded and fried tofu with plum sauce. I was going to make garlic noodles but I made fried rice instead thinking it was more kid-friendly. Friday's dinner wasn't scheduled. We ended up going for something super easy: store-bought veggie burgers and sweet potato fries dipped in ketchup and mayonnaise.

On Saturday the plan called for a cashew noodle stir-fry. I was so sick of doing laundry and tidying up that day that I didn't feel like cooking. My husband made quick tofu pizzas - extra-firm tofu blended with garlic and tomato paste, spread on a baguette and then baked in the oven. They are easy and delicious and the kids love them. We also heated up some frozen chickpea curry that I made a couple weeks ago and served that with leftover rice.




I am continuing to create regular fruit platters for the kids. I like to pick at them myself. I dug out this soccer platter for my little rep soccer dude.

Now for this week's plan:


MY MENU PLAN, WEEK four


Monday

This delicious vegan vodka sauce recipe comes from Bittersweet, the blog of talented cookbook author and photographer Hannah Kaminsky.

Tuesday
Simply Sweet Tofu
Mashed Potatoes
Carrot Soup

Wednesday

Spicy Tofu and Eggplant with Rice

Thursday

Pea and Potato Curry

Friday

Not scheduled

Saturday

Roasted Fall Veg Salad with Lentils

Sunday

Husband Cooking



Vegetable Soup with Lentils


by Joann MacDonald
Cook Time: 1 hour




Ingredients
  • 1 cup dry lentils
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 14-oz canned diced tomatoes, puréed in a blender or food processor
  • 1 fresh tomato, chopped (optional)
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • 1 large potato, diced
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 large carrot, chopped
  • 1 orange pepper, chopped
  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 3 large cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • a handful of fresh parsley, minced
  • ¼ tsp thyme
  • ½ tsp oregano
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

In a large pot, bring vegetable broth and lentils to a boil. Add all remaining ingredients, reduce heat, cover and simmer for about one hour until lentils and veggies are tender.

Before serving, remove bay leaves and purée half of the mixture in a blender or with an immersion blender.
Powered by Recipage




18 comments:

  1. Yum! It's been too long since I've made a lentil soup. By the way, I'm rounding up some crock pot soup recipes for a post- if you have any you'd like to share, can you email me the link? Thanks!! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Laura, The great thing about lentil soup is that it's a complete meal in one pot. You get veggies, protein, etc. I will think about the crock pot recipes. Thanks!

      Delete
  2. I love these recipe ideas Jo - I've made a mental note to try the lentil soup this week, it looks delicious :)
    K xx
    melikeyalot.blogspot.com.au

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am glad you like the ideas. I hope you enjoy the soup. Let me know. :)

      Delete
  3. Looks like a delicious week, and lentil soup is one of my very favorites!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lentil soup looks great! I haven't had taco's in ages but now you have me craving for them, probably will make them this week :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tacos are a great quick meal. Let me know what you put on yours. I am always looking for ideas. :)

      Delete
  5. Yum! I am intrigued by the coconut vodka sauce :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I found it totally delicious and addictive. I'm off to make it again now. ;)

      Delete
  6. So excited that my recipe made it onto your meal plan! Sure hope you enjoyed it... I'm looking forward to your report at the end of the week. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Hannah, that sauce is like candy to me. I could eat it right out of the pot! Thanks for the recipe. :) Joann

      Delete
  7. Coconut Vodka Sauce? Sounds amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yum! That lentil soup looks so good! Everything you make looks so dreamy! I want to eat at your house! Angie xo

    ReplyDelete