Curry Lentil Soup by John Spottiswood

This is a surprisingly light and tangy lentil soup. If you are used to thick and heavy lentil soups, this one will surprise you. It's very tasty and was a great complement to the pizza recipe I just put up. This is also adapted from a Greens restaurant recipe.

Cheesy Garlic Mashed Potatoes by Mary Joseph

Creamy Lentil and Broccoli Soup by John Spottiswood

This is a creamy, flavorful, and incredibly healthy soup. The next time you're in the mood for split pea soup (also very healthy), try this instead. It has a wonderful body and a great hearty flavor. If you haven't had sumac before as a seasoning, this is a great dish to try it with. Sumac is commonly used in the middle east to…

Yellow Split Peas with Vegetables (Dal Takari) by John Spottiswood

Wow, this is such a wonderful dish and so easy to cook! The keys to this dish are the yellow lentils, fried potatoes, and cumin seed. You can change out the other vegetables (spinach is a nice addition as it adds to the creaminess of the dish). Make sure you fry the cumin seed and potatoes over sufficiently high heat that the cumin…

Cumin Rice by Joyce Leung

This rice is a delicious mix of cumin and cinnamon. It provides a nice, slightly sweet flavor, that is a perfect complement to any middle eastern dish. The only dishes I would avoid serving this with are sweet dishes with dates, figs, etc. I served it with my Braised Lamb with Beans. It was great!

Lentil Soup by Nancy Miyasaki

This is my super easy, staple Lentil soup that everyone eats and enjoys. It's healthy and mild, good for everyone.

Harira Soup by John Spottiswood

This is the traditional soup served at sunset to break the daily fast observed during the 30 days of Ramadan. Recipes vary from family to family throughout Morocco and the rest of North Africa. I'm particularly fond of this version. If you have not had this before, you MUST try it. It is truly delicious!

Garlic Ginger Green Beans by John Spottiswood

These are an excellent, healthy side dish to any grilled meat. I highly recommend them with the Chinese BBQ chicken recipe below, but honestly these would go well with just about anything. Unfortunately these were tapped out long before our chicken, so make more than you think you need. They are great the next day too!

Old-Fashioned, Homemade Lemonade by Elena Jimenez

During those hot summer days, this drink will quench your thirst!

Amazing Red Lentil and Tomato Soup by John Spottiswood

I never thought I would have a red lentil soup that could match the Turkish red lentil soup that I have been served in Turkish restaurants and that I've learned to make. So I had low expectations for this Indian spiced version. It completely destroyed my expectations and was absolutely delicious. It was great last night, and I had…

Creole Pralines by Amos Miller

Better than a cookie (sorry bakers, but this is a Creole group) and with the true taste of New Orleans, Creole Pralines are one of the signature treats in the Big Easy! It is time to play 'soft ball', and we're not talking the sport - we're talking Creole candy. When the recipe calls for your concoction on the stove to reach the…

Chili Sauce by Salad Foodie

Chili sauce is one answer to that bumper tomato harvest. The perky piquant sauce can compliment many classic recipes like meatballs, meatloaf, cutlets, chops, tenders, eggs, potatoes, etc. This recipe is from Ball Blue Book of Canning (2010) and is what I’d deem a standard chili sauce for a wide variety of family uses. It is not…

Vanilla Custard Sauce (British) by Marlin Rinehart

This sauce is served over steamed puddings, fruit crisps (crumbles), and any dessert that would be enhanced by a creamy vanilla sauce. It's the perfect homemade replacement for Byrd's Custard powder. One warning, however: 1) use a small, "thick-bottom" saucepan, and 2) cook over low heat and don't allow the mixture to boil or it will…

Spaghetti Salad by Salad Foodie

Fresh garden veggies are the stand-out in this pasta salad recipe -perfect for summer's garden harvest. Pretty as a picture when served in a clear glass bowl. Use 3/4 cup of your favorite Italian Dressing, or prepare the dressing below. VARIATIONS TO CONSIDER: Use whole grain spaghetti. Add chopped pepperoni and cubed mozzarella…

St. Patrick's Day Irish Champ by John Spottiswood

This is a traditional Northern Irish dish of mashed potatoes with milk and sliced green onions. I thought it was a delicious under our St. Patrick's Day Salmon and Leeks recipe. The leeks and green onions really went well together. That said, the green onion flavor is quite strong so I would caution against serving this with…