Chickpea Lentil Soup

I recently got a request from someone to post more lentil recipes.

Happy to oblige!

So this soup is super easy and uses ingredients that some people may just have lying around. I got this from a Veg News e-newsletter and it sounded good so I made it that day.

Now, you know I have to keep it real with all of you. I love my CV readers so I don’t want to lie to you. This soup is super easy to make, really low in calories, but it's a bit bland boring. If you want a basic and hearty soup, this will do the trick. Husband was NOT a fan, but he also isn’t really a big “soup person” all around.

Straight from the recipe, the flavors are basic and not anything crazy exciting. However, this is a great filling and inexpensive soup to make and freeze or pack for lunch for the week.

So although I am not giving it a rousing standing ovation I say try it for yourself. Add some more spices, throw more vegetables in, use a different lentil, or use some good quality vegetable broth! Add your own flair to it. Best part about soup is you can always make it your own with whatever you have.

Recipe and another photo after the jump…

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Is Hospital Food Healthy?

Hospitals are supposed to be havens of healthy lifestyles, right? They are huge buildings that house people for the sole purpose of making the sick better. Makes sense that at its core hospitals would serve healthy and delicious food for all of their patients and visitors.

<Thump>

Oh, excuse me…. I just fell out of my chair from laughing at that.

In my last two posts I (lovingly) detailed husbands recent adventure at our local wellness center. While he was there, both times, I couldn’t help but observe the culinary wonders they brought him for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Okay… so let’s put it out there. The vast majority of people at hospitals are old folks who can’t live without their Friday fish sandwich and slice of enriched white bread. But for reals people, you can’t tell me that hospitals can’t offer some more nutritious and vegetable centered cuisine. I mean, really? Am I being to ignorant?

In case you didn’t know, husband is not a chubby vegan- just a chubby carnivore. We are a mixed family and we deal with that. So while at the hospital he was served a variety of plates of pork chops, chicken things, and crab cakes. They did ask him if he had any dietary needs, which he does not. I imagine this is probably meant more for diabetics and food allergies, but I really wanted to ask them if they could accommodate a vegan diet. Since I didn’t ask, I will try not to judge too much.

However, I just wish that hospitals would step it up a bit. His plates all looked like those crappy pictures from 8^th grade nutrition class (fistful of meat, palm full of vegetables, and a scoop of starchy something). Lame…

In all reality I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I have read that medical doctors only get about a second of nutrition training. Plus, how many medical professionals are smoking cigarettes and drinking gallons of soda and energy drinks. Right?

*stepping off my soap box*

If you want to read more about my venture into the hospital cafeteria and their vast assortment (lies) of vegan food, follow me after the jump.

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Lazy Sunday

Vegan Grilled Cheese

I look forward to the weekend all week. Not that my job is so miserable that I countdown the clock everyday, but there is just something about knowing that I don’t have to work that makes me happy.

Sometimes I think my dogs know it’s the weekend too. They get up a little later, they find new and interesting places to sleep, and they get more treats. My dogs are pretty smart, so I am pretty sure they know what’s up.

Pondering Pepper

Since I was feeling super lazy today, I was feeling something easy and delicious for my chubby vegan lunch. Perhaps a comfort food that just makes you feel good inside.

*pondering* 

GRILLED CHEESE

I have a love hate relationship with vegan cheese, but when it comes to Daiya my feelings tend to sway towards love. I was mindlessly searching the Internet last week and saw another vegan blogger talk about making vegan grilled cheese with Daiya. It looked pretty rad and I really wanted to try it. I think she used the cheddar version and all I had was mozzarella, but a chubby vegan has to do what a chubby vegan has to do.

She also made hers with pickles and slices of tomato that, in my opinion, is the only real way to eat grilled cheese. Sadly, I didn’t have any tomato so I subbed with a little bit of ketchup. Don’t hate.

On a scale of 1 to the best thing I ever ate, I would give it a super delicious. That is pretty much a 7.

Click after the jump for a more detailed recipe, which this is so easy you really don’t need, and a couple more pictures. 

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