Tag Archives: spices

Red Lentil Vegetarian Soup – New Place Starting from Scratch

Starting from scratch in a new place without furniture and the first use of my new used kitchenware that I acquired through a local online buyers and sellers market http://offerup.com I was able to obtain these minimal pots and pans in reasonably good condition – for $20 bucks – to cook my first meal. What a deal!

offerup, pots and pans

Just what I needed, some used and in good condition pots & pans

Here are the pics of the ingredients I used to create the red lentil soup with vegetables and spices

And here is the audio podcast itself (which unfortunately takes you away from the pictures, which follow the same storyline). I did this on the fly without scripting it. The peppers which I hadn’t known the name of are habanero (that look like mini orange tomatoes) and I also used the dark green Jalapeño peppers.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZpcfKrrvwFUdgJzNJrpazbf_9ovCB6vO/view?usp=sharing

olive oil, sea salt, ground pepper, paprika, cumin, turmeric, onion, bell pepper, habanero and jalapeno peppers

olive oil, sea salt, ground pepper, paprika, cumin, turmeric, onion, bell pepper, habanero and jalapeno peppers

cumin, paprika, turmeric, sea salt, pepper

I started my new kitchen with purchasing a sea salt and pepper grinder, and adding some spices; cumin, paprika, turmeric

I brought the red lentils to a boil, then simmered on low, adding salt, pepper and the various vegetables.

In a separate pan, I started to sauté onions on low heat, adding the spices, and then gradually each of the additional ingredients to that.

sauté onions adding the spices immediately to this low heat with olive oil

sauté onions adding the spices immediately to this low heat with olive oil

What I had not mentioned in the audio is that I learned from one of my hosts in Montpellier, France this last year about the benefits of combining beans and grains. This article http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/120914p36.shtml explains why historically, beans and grains have been combined. Various cultures already recognized the essential benefits of doing so. By combining these foods, one can source all of the necessary amino acids to derive all of the nutritional benefits of the two together. http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/benefits-combining-beans-grains-2574.html

As I explain in the audio, after I've sautéd the onions, mushrooms, peppers and spices, I add it to the separately cooking lentils and vegetables.

As I explain in the audio, after I’ve sautéd the onions, mushrooms, peppers and spices, I add it to the separately cooking lentils and vegetables.

This article lists the eight essential amino acids. https://www.livestrong.com/article/351077-the-protein-in-rice-beans/ mentioning that “Beans and other legumes — also known as pulses — are nutritional complements to rice and help to complete its amino acid profile. It is not necessary to combine complementary proteins at the same meal. Just be sure to eat a variety of proteins sources throughout the day.”

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1U_vQdzFMfFCvNzLcGy1XTPXpqRZ1iwMp

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U_vQdzFMfFCvNzLcGy1XTPXpqRZ1iwMp/view?usp=sharing

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Curried Yellow Split Pea Soup

Here’s the link to the podcast for Curried Yellow Split Pea Soup.

The few pictures at the end with the crushed chili peppers in the pan and the semi-sweet baking chocolate, is turning out to be my almost nightly desert. I play around with different concoctions of chili, paprika, cayenne, cinnamon, all tossed in with the chocolate, which I heat in that little pan (double boiler style) by letting it slowly heat up by resting on the surface of hot water. I recently saw the movie ‘Chocolat’ again, which I’m sure is what instigated me to experiment with creating my own chili, spices and chocolate combinations. It tastes great and is good for you (dark chocolate is better – and adding spices is best !-)

curried yellow split pea soup step by step pics

curried yellow split pea soup step by step pics

Hot & Sweet Chili con Carne ~ Sweetened with Molasses

I Heart Molasses

I Heart Molasses

I_Heart_Molasses

I_Heart_Molasses

11_hot_and_sweet_chili_con_carne

11_hot_and_sweet_chili_con_carne

Molasses

Here is Carol Keiter’s podcast of Hot & Sweet Chili con Carne – sweetened with molasses.

Hot & Sweet Chili con Carne ~ Sweetened with Molasses

10_chili_con_carne

10_chili_con_carne

searing, pork

1_searing_pork

spices

2_spices

3_spices_close-up

4_preparing_to_chop

 

 

 

After searing the pork strip, I turned down the temperature and decided to leave the meat in the pan to sauté on low heat with some chopped onion in olive oil, to which I add the spices: salt, pepper, paprika, cayenne, chili, cumin and red chili pepper flakes. Sorry, I don’t really measure the quantity, I just sort of go by feel.

 

 

 

I add some fresh chopped mushrooms soon after with the onion and wait for about 20 minutes or more to let this cook on the lowest temperature. Then I’ll add all of the other chopped vegetables together with the garlic (garlic burns so I usually add it together with the green cabbage, which produces moisture while it sautés).

kidney beans

5_kidney_beans

 

 

I would usually always use dry beans which I bring to a boil in water and then simmer in another pot, but I had a can of kidney beans which I used.

 

After the spices and veggies have sautéed for a bit, I’ll add the canned tomatoes and tomato paste.

8_canned_tomatos_kidney_beans

8_canned_tomatos_kidney_beans

I’ll add some corn kernels at the end as well, just for flavor.

 

 

 

 

I’m sure this is going to be a pretty hot and sweet chili! Enjoy!  In fact, yes, it is, now that I’ve tasted it. It’s definitively hot & sweet!

Hot & Sweet Chile ~ Molasses as sweetener ingredients ~

• chopped onion and garlic

• chili powder
• cayenne
• red dried chili flakes

• cumin
• ground some coriander
• paprika
• salt and pepper

• celery
• carrots
• turnip
• parsnip

I’ve then added:

a can of diced tomatoes
tomato whole peeled
some tomato paste
molasses (lots of bottles of molasses to use up in the kitchen as a sweetener)

then add kidney beans & frozen corn kernels

Welcome to Carol Keiter’s Podcast & Pics | Delicious Food as Medicine |

This blog is going to go light on text, focusing on pictures to compliment the podcast. click this bowl of delight for the 1st podcast on breaking the fast and Curried Rice

podcast, carol keiter, delicious, nutritious, food, curried rice

delicious medicinal food podcast by Carol Keiter Take 1

First tips on breaking the fast – do it with delicious fresh fruit and grains…

cereal_oats_greekyogurt fruit_yogurt_cranberryjuice_splash_oj tangerine_blueberries_apple_greekyogurt tangerines_blueberries

I prefer to start my day and each meal, with a full glass of water at room temperature. I wait until I’ve completed most of my breakfast to start in on the cappuccino!

banana_bread_cappuccino <a

Though this first one is a bit long-winded since it’s my first, I’ll keep honing it in and compact it down to about 3 and a half minutes, max. I’ll do my best.

I will say that regarding the meal this blog is about, Indian Curried Rice, here’s a little something about the history of India; a history that dates back to 4,000 years before Christ, should have something to teach about diet and health !-))

Here are pictures of the preparation, chopping and cooking.
brown_whole_grain_rice

 

onion_garlic_ginger

onion

chopped_onion

spices_closeup

spices_mortar_pestle

spices_veggies_olive_oil_mortar_pestle

Coriander_mortar_pestle

spices_added

mushrooms_tomato_garlic_ginger

cabbage_carrots_sweet_peppers_garlic

garlic_yes_that_much

cabbage_sweet_bell_pepper

carrots_chopped

cabbage_laid_over_sauted_spices

ginger_grated_sweet_peppers

cabbage_garlic_carrots_added_saute

 

cashews_to_add_last

golden_raisons_to_add_last

rice_cooking_curried_sauted_veggies

saute_one_hour_later

saute_early

x_organic_to_compost This pic is my container for organic (non-meat products) that will be tossed in the compost pile.

rice_whole_grain_fini

This last container is for organic waste (non-meat) that will be tossed into the compost pile.

I hope you enjoyed this first podcast & pics post. I promise I’ll cut the time in half for the subsequent posts. :-0