Happy New Year!!

Yes, I know I'm a day late.  We're ringing in the New Year with some really schnazzy colds.  The Husband had it last week and he's still feeling the effects.  I started feeling a little icky on New Year's Eve, but we went out anyway.  Smart!  Today has been a day of drinking tons of tea and napping when the baby naps.  So not that different than any other day...

I find myself reflecting on the passed year like so many other people, remembering what I've done, goals I have or have not accomplished, etc.  What a year it was for me and my family!  In February, at about 6 months pregnant, I got engaged.  The next month, on March 14th, I got married.  In May, our baby boy was due, but he did not arrive until June 6th.  And I guess you could say that everything has been a blur since then!  I tend to avoid making New Year's resolutions because I don't think I've ever followed through with one!  Even when I resolved to buy more CDs in high school or the time I resolved to wear more green.  I did neither.  However, there are plenty of areas in my life I could improve on.  I could definitely work out more, cook more and clean more.  So I hope to share some of those successes and potential failures with you here.

Anyway, let me share with you my lentil soup recipe I made this week.  Typically when I cook I don't measure, I just dump stuff in the pot.  I mean, there are times when I follow a recipe, like when baking a cake, but with things like soup and chili I just "cook by heart."  Someone once described their style of cooking like that to me and it's totally how I cook now.  I will try to pay better attention to my measurements from now on so I can share my recipes with you!!  This one is modified off the back of Bob's Red Mill Red Lentils bag. 

Lentil Soup
1 onion, I used four small, chopped
olive oil, I just pour some in the pan, about 2 tablespoons
1 carrot, chopped
2 tablespoons garlic, I used dry because that's all I had, but you can use 2 cloves fresh
1 (14.5 ounce) tomatoes, I used stewed tomatoes
2 cups lentils, I used red but any will work
8 cups water
1 tablespoon vinegar, I used apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Hungarian sweet paprika (it's what I've got)
1 tablespoon cumin
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
Salt and Pepper to taste

In a large pot, drizzle some olive oil.  Over medium heat add your onions and carrots and cook until onions are soft and tender.  Add garlic, paprika, cumin and crushed red pepper and cook another 2 minutes, being careful not to burn.  Add lentils, water and tomatoes.  Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low and simmer for at least an hour, until the lentils are soft.  When my lentils were soft, I used my immersion blender (do you have one of these?  They're amazing and if you don't you should get one ASAP.  I may have to do a whole post on the wonders of the immersion blender.) to blend everything together.  I love a smooth lentil soup.  Add salt, pepper and vinegar to taste.

I served this to my parents on New Years Eve with toast.  Simple!  Today I ate some with baked chicken shredded in there for extra protein.  Super tasty.  

Do you like lentil soup?  Do you make New Year's resolutions?  Tell me all about it!!