Thursday, February 11, 2010

Neighborhood Soirees

One of my great neighbors celebrated the snow last night with a neighborhood potluck.  The chili was great, and about half of us got there.  It was nice and she was so gracious in opening her home.


Which brings me to why I don't host these things.  There are some very different ideas on parenting in our crowd and the results are obvious.  The results that run through other people's houses without restraint would just send me over the edge if it was in my house.


So now you know.  I'm just not that nice!


But, to atone for my poor attitude toward other human beings, I did penance this morning.  Dug out the front walk, and then went to the elderly lady's house and dug out the end of her driveway where the snowplow had trashed it again.


Made some GREAT lentil soup yesterday and today it's simmering in the crockpot with a 'feed yourself' policy.  Mmmm....and as part of my penance, have rescued some to take to my mother-in-law's house later so she can have fresh soup too.  For the over-eighty crowd this snow isolation is really getting to them.


Lentil Soup
1 cup lentils, washed, picked over
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped celery
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1 tsp parsley
1/2 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp cracked black pepper
1 1/2 cups chopped cooked ham (or sausage)
3 cups chicken broth
1 cup water
2 Tbsp tomato paste


Throw it all in the crockpot, stir it once.  Cook on HIGH for one hour, then on LOW for 6-8 hours.  Adjust seasonings to taste.  Serve with fresh hot bread.  Mmmm....

7 comments:

The Bug said...

That soup sounds yummy. Keeping in mind that I am NOT a cook - would those be dry lentils?

Anna Whiston-Donaldson said...

I've been trying to rock the crock pot during this storm, too. I want to try this recipe.

Have invited all the neighbors over for happy hour tonight, but I'm afraid I'm not nice enough to handle it.... eeek.

betty said...

that recipe for soup sounds delicious! I like that it cooks in the crockpot too

that was kind of your neighbor to do the chili dinner; I bet everyone who came enjoyed the chance to get out a bit and socialize

my sister said her husband has been home from work for 4 days (works for something with the government) since its been closed with the snow; said she thinks they got 8 more inches yesterday

that was kind of you to shovel out your elderly neighbor's house; I'm sure she appreciated it

(thanks for your kind words and great advice about sparks.people. I have heard of it, I do need the accountability of putting things down in writing what I'm consuming :)

hoping the day will be a good one

betty

SouthLakesMom said...

Anna, be sure to use an already cooked meat, i.e. if you use sausage, cook it first.

quilly said...

This very much resembles my recipe. I like to use a peppery sausage in my lentil soup.

And, as I told Amoeba this morning, I am not half as kind on the inside as I am on the outside.

SouthLakesMom said...

Q - I like spicy sausage too, but I knew my M-in-law needed it a bit milder.

One thing I've found that I LOVE is a paprika tomato paste. It comes in a tube and is amazing to use instead of regular tomato paste. Gives it an extra kick. I didn't use it this time because of the same as above, but next time...

SouthLakesMom said...

Oh - and throw in a couple of bay leaves if you have them. Just fish them out before serving up.

Every time we have a dish with bay leaves my son says, "how about the person who gets the bay leaf gets a prize" and every time we answer, "you say that every time!"