French Lentil Soup with Mushrooms, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Kale

It's that time of year whilst soup is so regularly at the menu. Craving mushrooms, I got here up with this nourishing soup that includes peppery Puy lentils for depth and substance, inexperienced kale for some more earthy flavor, solar-dried tomatoes and a jalape?O for a few tang and only a little warmth ? And, of direction, mushrooms. This is a bold full-flavored soup that comes throughout as similarly elegant as rustic, depending on the way you examine it, however it's miles pretty easy enough to function a delightful hearty lunch with a few crusty bread. It is also a great preference for dinner, and I served it up with a few pearl barley cooked in vegetable stock.

This is my contribution this month to My Legume Love Affair, a monthly occasion celebrating legumes. Lovely Susan of The Well Seasoned Cook turned into the originator, I'm now the administrator and this month Rafeeda of The Big Sweet Tooth is kindly hosting.

Other mushroom dishes you're sure to enjoy from my kitchen:

Creamy Thai Coconut Mushroom Soup

Miso Mushroom Risotto

Mushroom and Goat Cheese Quesadillas with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Portobellos Stuffed with Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

White Bean and Parsnip Vegetable Soup

Several months of wintry weather starts offevolved to result in a degree of laziness in me. Fortunately, this coincides with cravings for easy soups that take little effort to make however warm and comfort the frame and soul. This particularly soup was stimulated by the presence of numerous parsnips within the crisper, remnants from a preceding recipe which I were too lazy to utilize before! Simple as this soup is, it's far colourful, hearty and scrumptious and is simply the thing to proportion on a cold iciness nighttime.

More easy iciness soup ideas:

Beet, Lentil and Vegetable Soup

Chickpea and Cabbage Soup

Curried Parsnip and Wild Rice Soup

Mushroom, Lentil and Barley Soup

Quinoa Salad with Vegetables and Cashews

It's bitterly bloodless proper now here in London, Ontario, and in spite of the reality that this iciness has been basically freed from snow, it has commenced to pile up these previous couple of days. The digital lack of mild drags one down too, so consolation food is so as. And this is one energy-packed salad that goes well with a warm bowl of soup to give one a glimmer of energy.

Quinoa comes collectively with sweet roasted root vegetables, dry roasted cashews and seeds, earthy kale and a few plump cherry tomatoes. Tossed with a zesty and zingy lemon, garlic, Dijon mustard and olive oil dressing, this colorful salad is perfect for serving with a split pea soup for a nutrient and protein packed meal.

Note: Millet or pearl barley could be utilized in area of the quinoa if favored.

This is likewise my contribution to No Croutons Required, a month-to-month event celebrating vegetarian soups and salads, alternately website hosting by way of my precise buddy Jacqueline and myself. To be a part of in, see Jac's publish right here. I'm additionally sharing with Eat Your Greens, a month-to-month occasion hosted by Allotment to Kitchen and The Veg Hog.

Other quinoa recipes you are positive to enjoy from Lisa's Kitchen:

Chickpea Quinoa Vegetable Wraps

Quinoa Soup with Corn

Quinoa Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

Quinoa Soup with Beets and Fresh Dill

Pasta Shells with Roasted Vegetables and Black Olives

Pasta is another one of winter's comfort foods that I don't actually eat all that often, but I certainly have friends and a husband who would like to eat it more frequently. But I will indulge them — and myself — more often if the pasta is dressed in an interesting, delicious and nourishing way. And in the winter, what better to toss pasta with than roasted vegetables?

This shell pasta I dressed up with a zesty combination of lemon juice, sun-dried tomatoes, balsamic vinegar and olives along with the roasted vegetables. This pasta is delicious served hot but also works just as well as a cold salad. I have no doubt that fresh grated Parmesan cheese would be tasty on this pasta, but I added a good helping of nutritional yeast to give it that pasta-friendly cheesiness in a vegan way — but feel free to substitute with Parmesan or omit the cheesiness altogether. My husband, who is the biggest pasta fan I know, was delighted with this.

Other pasta dishes to enjoy from Lisa's Kitchen:

Zesty Green Pea and Jalapeño Pesto Pasta

Lemony Pasta with Broccoli and Chickpeas

Vegetarian Mushroom and Spinach Lasagne

Penne Pasta with Ricotta, Parmesan and Tomatoes

Hummus With Za'atar

Many human beings consider hummus as a snack or appetizer, but for a little character like myself it's a meal! And a simple, convenient and engaging meal at that. Hummus is likewise a tremendous canvas for adding or experimenting along with your favorite flavors ? Perhaps it is Middle Eastern in origin, but that is no purpose no longer to try including Indian, Ethiopian or different flavors.

But for this hummus, I've again to Middle Eastern flavors. This is absolutely a completely simple, light creamy and fluffy hummus made with chickpeas, tahini, toasted pine nuts, lemon juice and garlic. But seasoned with za'atar, it's an tremendous treat. For those of you who haven't attempted it yet ? And you ought to! ? Za'atar is a completely unique Middle Eastern combo of fragrant dried herbs, sumac, black salt and toasted sesame seeds that provides a remarkable zesty and salty flavor to dishes. You'll love even simply the scent of it.

Pre-combined commercial versions of za'atar are easily available in recent times from massive grocers. To tell the reality, I've never even attempted a industrial variety, so I can not communicate to their satisfactory. But it's so smooth to make at domestic, and stores well in a tightly sealed and refrigerated field, that the notion of purchasing it by no means happens to me. You can find my recipe for selfmade za'atar right here. I've included 2 tablespoons of za'atar strictly as a proposal ? You can desire to add more.

More hummus ideas from Lisa's Kitchen:

Spicy Hummus

Marinated Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus with Olives

Pumpkin Hummus

Turkish Yogurt Hummus

On the top of the reading stack: Choosing Raw: Making Raw Foods Part of the Way You Eat

Beet and Strawberry Vanilla Smoothie

I've been topping up my breakfasts currently with quick frozen fruit smoothies, and this brilliant pink strawberry concoction has right away become considered one of my favorites. Cold, refreshing and creamy, it's not only packed with masses of sweet strawberry flavor but additionally with the remarkable vitamin and mineral vitamins of red beets. It's so tasty that I've started shopping for luggage of red beets to have available in preference to small bunches ? And so nourishing, too, that you will need to serve it any time of day. In truth, I assume I'll move make any other one proper now!

More Smoothies to enjoy from my kitchen:

Avocado Blackberry Smoothie

Raspberry-Banana Oat and Chia Seed Smoothie

Beet and Top Green Smoothie with Apple, Orange and Ginger

Pomegranate & Blueberry Oat Smoothie

Baked Quinoa Balls with Peanut Dipping Sauce

Little humans like me want plenty of protein. And this tasty little appetizer idea gives a terrific and engaging dose with quinoa, beans and peanut butter. I adore little bites, and those little savory balls may be served as a light meal too, as they may be quite filling.

But these baked quinoa balls have extra than just protein. Combined with solar-dried tomatoes, jalape?O, tamari, floor ginger and coconut milk, they have got a first-rate rich and deep Thai-style flavor, and the zesty peanut butter dipping sauce with lime, tamari, coconut milk and toasted sesame oil is simply heavenly. You may not be thinking about how healthful those are!

Almond or other nut butters can be used in place of the peanut butter if favored.

More little bites to revel in from my kitchen:

Baked Mini Vegetable Chickpea Samosas

Chickpea Avocado Bites with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Mung Dal Vada (Fried Indian Lentil Fritters)

Chana Vada (Chana Dal Peanut Patties) with a Tamarind Chili Sauce