Curried Lentils

(prep-- if using dried lentils, sort out the lentils to remove small rocks, or discolored beans. Soak lentils for about 8 hours in fresh water. They will absorb water, so be careful that your bowl is big enough.)


Ingredients:
  Main Dish:
-lentils
-1 or 2 carrots
-1/2 onion
-curry powder


  Optional:
-garlic
-bay leaves
-other spices (chili powder, cumin)
-mint garnish
-hard boiled egg side
-rice
-dark greens garnish (bok choy or spinach)
-tofu
-cheese topping

Directions:
-chop ½ a head of onions 1cm x 1cm and sautee on low heat in a big pot with a tablespoon of oil, until they start turning clear.
-put in 3 tablespoons curry powder, cook stirring occasionally for about 3 minutes.
-add chopped garlic (1 teaspoon) and 1 or 2 chopped carrots.
-add a bag of soaked lentils (pour out water they were soaked in and rinse), and enough water for the beans to be covered by about an inch of water. Bring to a boil. Add a bay leaf, and a dash of salt.
-simmer on low heat for an hour

Serve on rice (let's make 4 cups in your big cooker, so we can give some to hungry people and freeze leftover), or greens (steamed hakusai, 3 1-inch slices, I think it'll use the rest we have which is good), and garnished with a boiled egg (please boil 5, if we have them. If not, whatever we have left), and cheese (Vicki will buy).

Mommy's Curry!

* 2 large onions
* 4 potatos
* 2 cups peas
* 4 cups spinach, fresh
* 2 tbs curry powder (Whole Foods #10129 for not spicy, #10131 for spicy)
* 1 tbs turmeric powder
* 1/2 tbs ginger powder
* 2 tbs cumin
* 2 tbs garam masala
* 1/4 cup canola oil
* garlic, if desired

Directions:

# boil potatoes until soft.
# cut up onion. Fry in oil with cumin and curry powder (as well as garlic if desired) until curry powder turns yellow.
# add turmeric, ginger, spinach, and potatoes to the mixture. Other desired vegetables as well (green beans are good).
# simmer for 15 minutes or so.
# Add in peas and garam masala.
# simmer until peas are cooked (this should be less than 5 minutes).
# Serve.

* 1 cup long grain rice with necessary water.
* 1 tbsp butter
* 1 tbsp garam masala
* 1 tbsp cumin seeds
* 1 tsp cardamom powder or 4 cardamom pods

Directions:

# Use whatever method of rice cooking you have to cook rice; add all other ingredients with rice.

There we go.