WHAT'S BETTER THAN LENTILS IN THE WINTER??
We all have our favorite winter "make me feel cozy foods." Some may say a nice beef stew, some may say a big cheesy plate of lasagna, some may say a big pot of chilli........but for me...nothing says a Sunday winter cozy meal like a big pot of lentils!!! I'm fortunate in that I can follow any recipe and it will come out pretty good, but I also have some great friends who are wicked good cooks and love to share their recipes with me!! So guess what?? Now I am going to share it with you...but first let's talk about why this little bean is so good for our bodies.
Lentil beans are a member of the legume family, which means that they are rich in fiber and are also considered a lean protein source. Just one cup of cooked lentils contains up to 16 grams of fiber, which equates to about 64% of your needed daily value!!!! Just to give you a quick guide, woman should be consuming 25 grams of fiber daily and men should be consuming 38 grams of fiber daily. You may be asking, "what's so great about fiber?". Well, for starts it makes you feel "full" after eating it, it helps lower your cholesterol, it helps promote regular bowel elimination, and it can also help balance your blood sugar (especially important if you're diabetic). Let's not forget about lentils protein content......just 1 cup can provide 40g of protein!!! Lentils are also a great source of iron which helps pump up your immune health! Iron supports the growth of white blood cells, which we know are our "inner fighting cells" that protect us from illness. Just 1 cup of cooked lentils can provide 6.6 milligrams of iron, which provides 37% of your daily value.
Now that you know a little something about this precious little bean, I will share my BFF's (sorry couldn't help myself!!) recipe with all of you:
Ingredients Needed: 1 medium sized pot, 1 bag lentils (1 pound), 1 1/2 Vidalia Onions (diced), 5-6 Carrots (diced), 5-6 stalks of Celery (diced), 2-3 plum or vine Tomatoes (diced), 3 Garlic Cloves (minced), 3 cups of Water, 3 cups Chicken Broth, Bay Leaf (3), Extra Virgin Olive Oil (enough just to sauté your all of your goodies).
Method: Heat olive oil and sauté your onion, garlic, carrots, and celery for about 15 minutes. Next, throw in tomato and toss with all the rest of your ingredients in pot and continue to sauté for a few more minutes. Then, place your lentils in the same pot and add your water, chicken broth, and bay leaf. Now let them cook for awhile to your desired tenderness. When done, salt and pepper to taste!!! That's it!!!! I like to serve my lentils over whole wheat or gluten free elbow macaroni.......sprinkle with parmesan cheese and dig in to a healthy, hearty meal!!!! I hope you and your family enjoy this recipe as much as we do!!!
Lentil beans are a member of the legume family, which means that they are rich in fiber and are also considered a lean protein source. Just one cup of cooked lentils contains up to 16 grams of fiber, which equates to about 64% of your needed daily value!!!! Just to give you a quick guide, woman should be consuming 25 grams of fiber daily and men should be consuming 38 grams of fiber daily. You may be asking, "what's so great about fiber?". Well, for starts it makes you feel "full" after eating it, it helps lower your cholesterol, it helps promote regular bowel elimination, and it can also help balance your blood sugar (especially important if you're diabetic). Let's not forget about lentils protein content......just 1 cup can provide 40g of protein!!! Lentils are also a great source of iron which helps pump up your immune health! Iron supports the growth of white blood cells, which we know are our "inner fighting cells" that protect us from illness. Just 1 cup of cooked lentils can provide 6.6 milligrams of iron, which provides 37% of your daily value.
Now that you know a little something about this precious little bean, I will share my BFF's (sorry couldn't help myself!!) recipe with all of you:
Ingredients Needed: 1 medium sized pot, 1 bag lentils (1 pound), 1 1/2 Vidalia Onions (diced), 5-6 Carrots (diced), 5-6 stalks of Celery (diced), 2-3 plum or vine Tomatoes (diced), 3 Garlic Cloves (minced), 3 cups of Water, 3 cups Chicken Broth, Bay Leaf (3), Extra Virgin Olive Oil (enough just to sauté your all of your goodies).
Method: Heat olive oil and sauté your onion, garlic, carrots, and celery for about 15 minutes. Next, throw in tomato and toss with all the rest of your ingredients in pot and continue to sauté for a few more minutes. Then, place your lentils in the same pot and add your water, chicken broth, and bay leaf. Now let them cook for awhile to your desired tenderness. When done, salt and pepper to taste!!! That's it!!!! I like to serve my lentils over whole wheat or gluten free elbow macaroni.......sprinkle with parmesan cheese and dig in to a healthy, hearty meal!!!! I hope you and your family enjoy this recipe as much as we do!!!
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