What's for Dinner

So I haven't been to the store in a while... last week's Sam's Club trip was one of those horrific "everything has run out at once" experiences where you get light-headed watching the numbers ring up at the checkout stand. Can it REALLY cost that much just to buy vitamins and razors? Since when does toilet paper cost an arm and a leg? Couldn't I have stretched that watered down shampoo just a little bit farther?

Anyway, so this week is the "use all the extremely ripe old produce in the bottom of the fridge" week. Fortunately, I also threw a bag of broccoli in with the Sam's purchases and you can make all sorts of great stuff with broccoli. This afternoon I broiled broccoli, mushrooms, and some previously baked potatoes cut up into chunks until they were soft and a little charred, threw in a cup or two of boiled wheat berries and served it tossed with herbs, olive oil, salt/pepper, minced fresh garlic, and balsamic vinegar... mmmmmm!

A few days ago we had this soup. I love this recipe (slightly cannabalized from a find on allrecipes.com) because the spices are so fragrant and you can really use just about any vegetable you can find in it. Also very forgiving on "extremely ripe" produce. ha ha. Here it is:

MOROCCAN LENTIL SOUP
It isn't really Moroccan. But it sounds exotic, right?

Saute:
2 onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 t fresh ginger, grated, or 1 t. dry

Add:
5 c. water or broth
1 c. lentils
1 can garbanzo beans
1 can beans of any type
1 carrot, diced
1 ½ c. green vegetables (spinach, broccoli, cabbage, whatever)
½ c. rice or other grain (quinoa, barley, etc.)
1 t garam marsala
½ t cayenne
½ t cumin
1 ½ t cardamom

Let cook 1 hour or so (time may vary... I don't cook by the clock well.) Then add:

1 can crushed/diced tomatoes

Heat and serve with a dollop plain yogurt swirled in.

Alternately, throw all ingredients in slow cooker, let cook 5 hours.

This is a husband-approved recipe. It makes a huge pot (depending on amount of veggies added, of course) and you can add more water or broth to stretch it the next day. Also freezes well.