Ghetto as pho

It is plain ugly out today.  This is day two of rain, wind, and winter-like temps.  Yes, I'm aware that it's still technically winter.  But this season is usually a lot more tolerable for me and my interconnective tissues.

Yes, I've been feeling like poop.  Coincidence?  I think not.  But, I've been trying not to dwell on the "why" aspect of my pain recently.  It causes more stress than it's worth.  So, I've been taking it easy, doing what I can to make our new, tiny apartment seem less cluttered.  

And then I get a call from Costco that my tires are in and they aren't too busy right now- if I'd like to venture out this afternoon.

So, to warm my insides (and quell my cravings for a Costco hot dog) I came up with a quick soup for lunch.

Ghetto as Pho

Ha ha, word play!

Warm 1.5 cups of homemade chicken stock in the microwave until lukewarm.  Add dried mung bean threads you found in your "pantry" (it's my old office bookcase...with jars and stuff on it...in our dining room).  Microwave two minutes.  Stir.  Add shredded cabbage (a couple good handfuls) and diced leftover rotisserie chicken (maybe a couple ounces).  Microwave another minute.  Add frozen peas- one big stuck-together clump should do it.  One minute more.  Throw some rooster sauce on there and a small spoonful of hoisin.  Eye a half of a lime that you left on the counter overnight, then squeeze it over the top for good measure.  Ignore your shame.  Eat out of the Pyrex with chopsticks and feel fancy.

Yes- as you may notice from the picture- my task for today was to go through all my old Bon Appetit issues and throw them out after clipping the recipes and articles from them that I cared to save.  No, apparently this did not inspire a more gourmet lunch. 

Which I'm totally okay with.  

Because I have happy soup belly.

Have a nice day.

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A good pot of lentils...

"A good pot of lentils" is actually the name of the recipe posted on Bon Appetit.  Here's the recipe for your healthy eating pleasure:

2 cups lentils (French green or black beluga)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 tsp. kosher salt plus more for seasoning
Optional Aromatics:
1 carrot, peeled; fennel fronds; 3 sprigs thyme; 3 sprigs flat-leaf parsley; 1 medium onion; 1 celery stick; 1 bay leaf; 1 head of garlic (the top 1/3 sliced off), and 1 whole dried chile

Place 4 cups water, lentils, oil, and salt in a heavy large saucepan and bring to a boil. Add any or all of the aromatics and return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until lentils are tender and no longer chalky at their core, about 30-45 minutes. Season to taste with salt. Let lentils cool in the cooking liquid. DO AHEAD: Cover and chill lentils in liquid for up to 5 days. When ready to serve, scoop lentils out of liquid with a strainer or slotted spoon.


Recipe source (Clicky)


The picture is the pretty pre-cooked lentils.  For aromatics I used fennel fronds, thyme, baby carrots, a bay leaf, half an onion, and the head of garlic.  The result was delicious.  As my menu stated, I served the lentils with trout and roasted zucchini.  I also threw a salad in there with a quarter of an avocado and the miso-lime vinaigrette.  I don't think it's a bad thing to go overkill on the veggies.  :)

What healthy thing do you enjoy going overboard on?

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Leila's green monster smoothie!

Leila's green monster smoothie. Her's turns a much prettier color of green... I think that's because I added more strawberries. I love that my breakfast has spinach in it!  I subbed in a cup of fat free Greek yogurt instead of using whey protein powder.

Recipe:  Leila's Green Monster Smoothie

• 1-2 Cups of Spinach
• 3/4 cup Tropical Fruit Medley (I used frozen pineapple and frozen strawberries and a fresh mango)
• 1 Scoop of vanilla whey protein powder (again, I used Greek Yogurt)
• 1/2 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze
• Water for consistency

Leila also recommended added chia seeds, which she talks about a lot on her blog... but other than that I had never heard of it or seen.  I hear they are omega-three-a-licious.  Next time I will, more than likely, add some flax seed if I can't find these magic seeds that Leila throws into everything.

We just bought a brand new blender with an awesome name- The Ninja!  I killed my old blender making peanut sauce for my chicken satay (Nom).  This blender is amazing- you could not have guessed I was blending whole frozen strawberries!

As always, please visit Leila's blog if you're interested in running, fashion, and generally trying to live healthy:

Spinach and Skittles (Link)

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