What's cookin?

I have great news.  We bought a house!!! :)  It's a semi-detached, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, gorgeous kitchen with top of the line appliances and an unfinished basement just waiting for my design touch.  We're very excited and slightly overwhelmed.  It's ours June 9th!!  YEAH!!!  I'm not sure if I want to share photos of it now or once we're in and I have decorated.  You tell me if you want to see photos now. 

One of my goals this year (other than to purchase a house... check!) is to cook two new recipe's a month.  I haven't kept count but I think I might be one short for February (like it's really hard to count to two!).  Any who, the point is I want to share each new recipe with you.  They are certainly not my own (well, most of the time) but they are delicious and healthy.  The first is Spicy Lentil Soup from Cook It Simply.  I suggest making a double batch in order to have enough to freeze for a future meals.  It serves four perfectly as a meal and six as an appetizer.  


6 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 carrots, chopped
2 sticks celery, chopped
1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon ground coriander
185 g (6 oz) red lentils, washed and picked over
1.2 litres (2 pints/5 cups) vegetable stock
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste


1. Heat oil in a saucepan over a medium heat; add cumin seeds. 
2. As soon as seeds begin to pop, add onion and cook until golden, stirring. 
3. Add garlic, carrots and celery and cook gently for 10 minutes, until soft. 
4. Stir in all the spices and cook for a further 1 minute before adding lentils.
5. Pour in stock and bay leaf and bring to the boil, then simmer for 1 hour, skimming surface
if necessary. 
6. Remove bay leaf and puree soup in a blender or food processor. 
7. Return to pan, season with salt and pepper and reheat. 
8. Serve garnished with fried onion rings and coriander leaves.


Bon Appetit!

I wouldn't mind enjoying my bowl of soup at this table.  This image is inspiring me for our new kitchen. 

Decorpad