Lentil Bolognese Sauce

To go along with our bean/lentil class last week, I am posting this recipe:

We don't eat much meat at the Dill household, but Ryan sometimes craves something "meaty". He made us both happy with this recipe.  Sorry, no pic.  We just ate it up too quickly!

1 onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

2 carrots, coarsely grated

3 T olive oil

2/3 C red lentils

1 can (14 oz) tomatoes, chopped

2 T tomato paste

2 C vegetable stock

1 tsp oregano

salt/pepper to taste

1/2 C cream

1/2 C milk

1. In a large saucepan, gently fry the onion, garlic, and carrots in oil until they are soft and "brown goodness" starts to stick to the bottom of the pan.  This may take a while depending on your cookery.

2. Add the lentils, tomatoes, tomato paste, stock, oregano, salt and pepper.  The liquid will "deglaze" your pan, giving a richer flavor to your sauce.

3.  Bring the mixture to a boil, then partially cover with a lid and simmer for 20 minutes until thick and soft.  Add milk and cream, but DO NOT ALLOW TO BOIL AGAIN, or curdling may occur.  Serve over whole wheat pasta (making it a complete protein, wink, wink) and add a bit of freshly grated parm on top!

Note:  If you like your sauce a bit smoother, just use an immersion blender or cool and blend in a blender on pulse until desired consistency is reached.  Also, make sure you add enough salt to bring out flavors.  This is no good without salt!

Super Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

I wanted to make PB cookies. I found a scrumptious recipe, but remembered I had no eggs. I was bummed. An hour later, I just so happened to look through a cookbook and found a PB cookie recipe that required NO EGGS! (when I finally decide to go vegan, I will be rejoicing!) Anyways, here is the recipe:

3/4 cup Peanut Butter
1 14 oz. can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 c. Bisquick (I use the heart healthy kind in the white box)
1 t. Vanilla
Granulated Sugar (optional)

Beat PB and SCM in mixing bowl until smooth. Add Bisquick and beat. Add Vanilla. Form into balls and roll in sugar if you like it that way. I know I do...Bake at 375 8-10 minutes!