Arabic Lentil soup

We had unseasonal rains today. It is the weekend and it was raining. Over the last 6 days or so, we have had bits of rain but today was like the absolute, ultimate in rain. Why am I waxing eloquent on rain ? We get less than one day of rain per year in the desert and this year, it is an unexpected bonanza. The rain didn’t bring down the temperature much, so it was pleasantly comfortable.

So comfortable in fact, that my daughter wanted me to get her lentil soup from Shakespeare. I was hesitant to go out in the rain, so I asked her if homemade lentil soup would do and she said yes, if I let her make gluten free brownies for dessert after. I said ok.

Hana, one of my colleagues had a few months back sent me a recipe for an Arabic Shorma, she called it, which is tasty lentil soup.

Here’s how I made it

Ingredients
· 2 tablespoons olive oil
· 1 small onion, peeled and chopped (about 1 cup)
· 1 medium Potato potatoes, peeled and chopped
· 1 cup chopped carrots
· ¼ cup red lentils
· 1 teaspoon white pepper
· 1 teaspoon dried thyme
· ½ teaspoon cumin
· ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
· 5 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (preferably homemade)
· 2 tablespoons lemon juice
· 1 tablespoon butter or, for vegan, olive oil
· 2 scallions, thinly sliced crosswise
Instructions
1. Place a large pot over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and chopped onions. Saute for 3-5 minutes until soft.
2. Add potatoes, carrots, lentils,  cumin and cayenne and cook for another minute, stirring continuously to prevent sticking. Pour in broth, add lemon juice, and cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until vegetables are soft.
3.  Remove soup from heat, allow to cool slightly. Puree in a blender, then return to pot to reheat. Serve hot and garnish with mushroom bits and green onions.

This is the website Hana used :

Potato, Carrot and Lentil Soup for the New Year

A big pot of hot lentil soup for less than half a cup of lentils- very good value indeed. In Shakespeare, we would have had to pay at least 12 $ for a bowl of soup. The soup was as tasty as the one from the shop. We each had two bowls each and didn’t want any main course for dinner, not that there was any.:)

It was just starters and dessert. The brownies got a trifle burnt and the daughter was a little disappointed but I was pleased as I could not eat even a bit of it.

But the soup was the highlight of the day.

Blogger Recognition Award

Lucy Melinda from purpleslobinrecovery( one of my very own best friends and a woman after my own heart) nominated me for this award. ITs been a long time since I have been nominated for any award . Thank you, Lucy.

Here are the rules:
Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog. (Done)

Write a post to show your award.( Here it is)

Give a brief story of how your blog started.

In 2014, when I was 45, I started writing. I had no income. No, I was not starving or homeless but just didn’t have money to call my own. I had spent every penny of my end of service benefit and so was dependent on my husband for money. I was ok with it to tell you the truth but I am extravagant by nature and his allowance would not cover my extra expenses. I decided to take up writing to make an income. Most sites I visited required me to have a blog and provide a link to a blog. At first I desisted but finally gave in and in August 2014, I started writing a blog. It has brought me a lot of friends, some of whom I talk to on the telephone too, and am enjoying blogging thoroughly.

Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.

1. Blogging opens you up to yourself before it opens you to the world outside. Be honest and the world will see your honesty.

2. Every human being has problems, issues, trouble spots. If you write about your own or read those of others, you will understand that the world is a much smaller place than you can even imagine.

Select 15 other bloggers you want to give this award to.

This is difficult. 

1. Miriam
2. Bethany
3. Tina
4. Tony
5. Anne Mehrling
6. Faye
7. Kathy
8. Deborah Crocker
9. Deborah Bowman
10. Judy
11. Ritu
12. April
13. Deb
14. Dolly
15. Jackie 

Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them and provide the link to the post you created.

I will.