Snacks

Easy Lentil Salad

2 Comments

I never knew lentils could be so tasty and versatile and right now I am especially enamored with the beautiful French Lentil.

French Lentils

Now that I am more familiar with this ingredient, I find myself using the French Lentil variety often.  Its texture is firm and its flavor is both verdant and earthy.  I have been incorporating the French Lentil into soups, salads, stews, and I even use it when I make my vegetable stock.

This simple recipe, inspired by the flavors of tabouli, showcases the French Lentil.  It is an easy summer dish that is picnic friendly (no mayo!), plant based / vegan, and gluten-free too!

I enjoy this dish for lunch and it works well as a side dish too.

FRENCH LENTIL SALAD

by: Jenn Surowitz @FoodByJenn / http://www.foodbyjenn.com

Cook 1 cup dried French Lentils in a large pot of boiling water for about 45 minutes (or until tender or to your desired tenderness). Drain and let the lentils either come to room temperature or chill.  You can use cooking time or chilling time to prep the other ingredients listed below.

3 Very thin slices of red onion, minced (approximately 1-2 Tablespoons)

1 clove of garlic, peeled and finely minced (or pressed in a garlic press or grated on a microplane)  Continue reading →

Kale Me Now

Leave a comment

I have been on the hunt this year for a revitalizing, refreshing and flavorful GREEN smoothie.  I have tried a variety of recipes thus far involving spinach, grapes and cucumbers among other fruits and veggies.

Last month, I purchased a copy of Oprah magazine (mainly for the clutter busting tips, as I am a big fan of organizing).  The issue contained a few recipes including one for a kale based juice! Check out the recipe here.  Continue reading →

Rah Rah RAMEN!!!

1 Comment

photo by: foodbyjenn

This September, as a new university semester starts, I can’t help but reminisce about the year I started college.

I learned about and came to love so many unexpected things outside of the classroom that first semester “away from home”.  I met many interesting people, read a ton of coursework, listened to new music, and fell recklessly in love.

But the one thing that has stayed with me, that I always crave and seek out come this particular time of year is…

Gimme an R!

Gimme an A!

Gimme an M!

Gimme an E!

Gimme an N!

What’s it spell? RAMEN!

(Please note:  I am a much better cook and eater than I ever was a cheerleader.)  Continue reading →

Granola Bar Bar Bar Jackpot!

1 Comment

photo by: FoodByJenn

Last October I visited a Bed & Breakfast in Vermont where the owner treated me one morning to a delightful yogurt parfait with his homemade granola.  Ever since, I have been determined to create my own tasty granola.  After much trial and error, and more than a few recipes, I decided what I really wanted to make was a granola bar that I could either toss into my purse to eat on the run or crumble into a greek style yogurt when I had the time to sit and eat breakfast or lunch.  In the end, I modified Ina Garten’s “Homemade Granola Bars” recipe which you can find here. This is a wonderful recipe just as it is written (after all, would the Barefoot Contessa let us down? I think not!).  I tweaked the recipe because I wanted to incorporate quinoa flakes into the bars for a protein bump up, sesame seeds for added flavor, and dried tart cherries for a little pucker.  Continue reading →