more veggies, please!

40 min – serves 3 2 teaspoons olive oil ½ chopped large onion 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 tablespoons chili powder 2 tablespoons ground cumin ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes ¾ cup tomato purée 1 cup dried brown or green lentils, rinsed 4 cups water 1 bunch chopped green onions 1. Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and sauté 2 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds. Add chili powder, ground cumin and pepper flakes. Stir 30 seconds. 2. Add tomato purée, lentils and 4 cups water. Increase heat and bring to boil, skimming off any foam from surface. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until lentils are tender, adding more water by ¼ cupfuls as needed if dry, about 30 minutes. I have found this takes longer when using green lentils. 3. Stir in green onions. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Can be made 2 days ahead. adapted from the lake austin spa resort recipe in bon appétit magazine (i have clearly never been to a resort)

Muhammara is a delightful tangy, creamy and yet light sauce that is traditionally eaten as a side to Middle Eastern dishes. I dare you - try to eat this as a side and not as a main. 15 min – serves 4 1 15-ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained 1/3 cup bread crumbs 2/3 cup walnuts, toasted lightly and chopped fine 2 garlic cloves, minced and mashed to a paste with 1/2 teaspoon salt juice of one lemon 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses 1 teaspoon ground cumin 2 teaspoons Aleppo pepper ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil In a food processor, blend together the peppers, bread crumbs, walnuts, garlic, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, cumin, Aleppo pepper, and salt to taste until the mixture is smooth. With the motor running, add the olive oil gradually. Serve with pita recipe by sasha

I’ve been trying to inch my way towards spring by progressively cleaning out my cupboard of dry goods. Instead of making more granola, I decided to opt for a warm breakfast: oatmeal. 5 min – serves 1 basic recipe ½ cup instant oatmeal a pinch of salt ½ teaspoon sugar (optional) variations add 2-3 dashes of cinnamon add ¼ cup dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, apricots, dates) I even added a tablespoon of pine nuts to one of my packets. Not as weird as it sounds! thanks to mark bittman for directing readers of his blog to this site: http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/09/making-your-own-homemade-oatmeal-packets-a-visual-guide-and-cost-analysis/