Soul Food

This weekend was cold. We spent most of the time huddled up, drinking coffee, tea, watching movies..in pajama's.  The kids did go outside a few times...but it was just to cold to enjoy.

Oh how, I wish we could say we were cuddled up by our fire.....but we were not.....we are still "working on it"...oh how we wish it was finished on days like these. It really is not a process for a cold winter day...it requires a huge hole to be cut in the roof...Burrr.

The mercury has dipped. No more +5 days. We have dipped to -20 C in a matter of minutes. This is no surprise...it happens every year...we are after all,  on the Prairies. Even in the Banana Belt of this flat wonder...it is cold. 

Warm thoughts to everyone else who is colder!!

On these cold days we are comforted and warmed by food. Hot food. Comfort food. So, this weekend we cooked and warmed our soul with food down here on our little farm. 

Recipes to share:  

(I adapted some of these Recipes from my own and Robin Lim’s Book After the Baby's Birth. which Is very lovely I might add.)

ENJOY!! We did a few times...

Dahl

2-3 TBSP Butter/Ghee/oil--whatever you have

1 large Onion

2 TBSP of Curry Powder(I made my own)see below.

5 C or more Water-I had to add more as I went along.

2 C small red split lentils

1 TBSP Salt

2 cloves of garlic...chopped/squished

1 lemon juiced...you may add more..depending on your lemon.

1TBSP of honey or brown sugar. (or more)
1 Carrot grated

::Fry the onion in a few tbsp of butter.Sweat the curry- Add a little butter, add curry and cook it in the oil/butter or Ghee. The onion seeds will pop. Add water to onions and spices. Add Lentils and Salt.Cook until tender. Add remaining ingredients. Add a grated carrot. Adjust seasoning...Enjoy.

Note:It cook for about an hour or less...make sure you keep checking it and stirring it...add more water if needed...It should be soup consistency. 

::Serve with cumin yogurt and Naan Bread

Curry Powder

3 TBSP  Ground Turmeric

3 TBSP  ground Cumin

1 TBSP  ground Coriander

1 TBSP ground ginger

1 TBSP ground cardamom

1 TBSP brown mustard seeds

1 TSP ground black Pepper

1 TSP ground asafoetida

:Mix in a jar, seal with a lid.

Cumin yogurt

1 cup Plain Yogurt

a few pinches of cumin

use it to top the Dahl

Bread Maker Naan

100ml of water

60 ml Plain yogurt

1 2/3 cups flour

5 ml cumin seeds

1 tsp salt

2 tsp honey

1 tbsp melted butter

1 tsp dry yeast.

::For Bread maker..add ingredient in order. Put it on DOUGH setting.

::Divide dough into pieces...about 6-8 ish. You may want bigger or smaller pieces. Role them all out. Place a few at a time on a cookie sheet. 

::Bake: 450-500 F until it slightly browns  and gets air pockets...Watch it cooks quickly!

Note: I made this by hand too...it actually faster...bread machines are great..but they take a long time. Make it like you would make bread, Proof yeast, make a sponge, add flour, kneed,  let in rise until it doubles and then roll it out and Bake it. It's really nice!! 

I hope you had a weekend full of soul food and family.