Pumpkin Lentil Soup and LOTS of Other Stuff

My parents take our family out to a nice buffet for Thanksgiving dinner, which unless I were hosting dinner, offers Chase and me plenty of options. We actually had more than enough to eat, including hummus and baba ganoush with pita, spinach salad, grilled asparagus, roasted potatoes and mushrooms, fresh veggies we stole from the omelet station, fresh fruit, and peanut butter and banana sammies we took from the kiddie table. We also got to watch my brother eat a big hunk of prime rib! It was wonderful family time together, a beautiful, 80 degree, sunny day, and a reminder that we have so much to be thankful for.


I'm not shopping today, but I have to tell you that Chase camped out all night to get a game system he wants (NOT the $600 one!) and it was really kind of exciting! He was at a little tiny store in my neighborhood where he had heard rumor that a few systems would be in stock today. He went at about 8:30 last night and the store was not going to open until 7:00 this morning. I'm glad I was nearby because at 9:00 last night he called and asked for a pillow and blanket, and at 10:30 he called and ordered a veggie burger! Anyway, he came over at 7:30 this morning with the game so it was worth it. That is my Christmas present to him and he wants me to wrap it so he can have it to open on Christmas day.


Okay, enough personal stuff. I made the most awesome Pumpkin Lentil soup today. I sauted an onion, added a cup of water and a whole diced butternut squash and cooked it about 10 minutes. I seasoned it with garlic, red chili flakes, mexican oregano, salt and pepper, and parsley, and then added 3 cups of vegetable stock and cooked until the squash was done. In the meantime I cooked a half cup of yellow lentils. I pureed the squash and added about a tablespoon of tahini to it, then added in the cooked lentils.

I don't like sweet pumpkin soup, so this spicy version was perfect for me. I could have saved time and pureed the lentils as well, but I liked tasting the whole lentils in the creamy squash. I really am in love with lentils!

I always send Sunday leftovers home with Chase. Last Sunday we had the Breast of Tofu and Chickpea Gravy. So Monday morning when I got to my office, I had an email from him:

"Mom, the gravy you made is addictive like crack. Make me a tub of it please." I thought it was pretty funny so I forwarded it to Isa and told her I thought she'd like to know she had a big fan of her chickpea gravy.

She emailed back right away and said, "That's really funny! Better they do gravy than crack, I always say."

I sent Isa's reply to Chase and then he said "That's really cool she emailed you back. But seriously Mom.... the bread and the gravy. Two things I can never live without again! I'M SERIOUS!!"

So I contributed to my son's addiction and made more English Muffin bread, gravy, and also fixed up a bag of millet puffs.

That gravy really is so good with everything. I also made a tester homemade gift that I call Texas Trash. It is party mix made with tortillas chips, Crispix, popcorn, and nuts and baked with a sweet chili syrup. I hadn't made it in a while and couldn't remember how much the chili would color the chips, but I think some blue or red tortilla chips would look really nice for holiday gift bags. The recipe makes about 20 cups and I cooked it in a disposable roasting pan. If anybody needs the recipe I'll be glad to post it later.

Here's a few goodies I picked up at my little neighborhood Whole Foods today. Man, the shelves were bare! These hemp tortillas looked interesting. The guy at the checkout said to just warm them in the oven and all the nutty flavor and texture really comes through.

I haven't tried these noodles or crackers yet, and if anyone thinks they are not vegan, please let me know. The peanut butter is one way I spoil my son. Oh my gosh, it costs $6.99!

Finally, here's a stuffed baked sweet potato that was dinner earlier this week. If you look real hard, you can see the sweet potato under all the veggies.

I can't remember the last time I had 4 days in a row off from work. I don't know what to do with myself. I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday. I'll see you Sunday.