Set the Table 2018 | Week 6

Love Yourself First = A Valentine's Day week recap!

The following meals were created over three nights. The first night began with a side dish batch of lentils and rice.

Here is how the "planned-overs" went down. 

...So much better than "left-overs" don't you think?"

Thanks for the awesome rewording Mark! (Must give props to my super cool friend from Slow Food Canada.)

Lentils and Brown Rice

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil or ghee
2 large yellow onion
1 cup red lentils
1 cup brown rice
3 1/2 cups water/vegetable stock/chicken stock
(if using water add 1 tsp sea salt)
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 black pepper

In a medium saucepan or dutch oven, saute the onion in the oil low and slow, stirring occasionally until beginning to brown and caramelize. Remove half of the onions and set aside on a plate. Pour in the water/stock and to the saucepan with 1/2 of the onions. Bring to a boil. Add the lentils, reduce heat and cover, simmering for 15 minutes. 

1. In the meantime, bring water to a boil in a saucepan, add the lentils, reduce heat, and cover, simmering for 15 minutes. Then add the rice, salt (if only using water), pepper and thyme. Cover and simmer 15 minutes or until rice is tender. Remove from heat and stir in the caramelized onions. Place a paper towel over the pot, Cover and let stand for 5-10 minutes.

Lentil n Rice Meat Balls

Cold leftover lentils and rice (at least 1.5 cups)
1 lb grass fed, organic ground beef
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 pasture raised, organic egg

a handful of parmesan shavings

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl. With clean hands, mix up the ingredients until well incorporated (all squishy-wishy in the fingers). *If you make the lentils and rice the same day, do NOT mix the cold meat with the warm rice, this will begin cooking the meat and encourage bacteria to form. To cool the rice down quickly, spread on a baking sheet and put in the freezer until cool). 

Form mixture into balls as large or as small as you'd like. Place meatballs in a cast iron pan and cook for 40 minutes. They should be browned and cooked through. We made meatball sandwiches!

Tomato and Meatball Goulash (Memories from my Grandma Dorothy's family table)

2 small carrots diced

1 onion diced 

2 celery ribs diced

2 garlic cloves minced

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil or grass fed butter or ghee

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 14-17 oz can of diced tomatoes 

2x's the amount of diced tomatoes inVegetable, Beef or Chicken Stock (Use the tomato can/box and fill it twice with water and a heaping Tbsp of Organic Better than Boullion Stock.)

1/2-3/4 cup dry small shaped pasta (think macaroni, orzo, ditalini or bow tie shaped pasta - Try it gluten free!)

Parmesan cheese shavings or any type you have on hand!

In a large saucepan or dutch oven over medium/low heat, add the oil and saute the carrots, onion, celery, and garlic (soffritto). Season with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning and cook, stirring occasionally until soft and beginning to brown. Add the stock and and can of tomatoes. Cover and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and cook to package instructions (Pasta should be soft in 10 minutes or so). Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with your cheese of choice! Add more water if needed.

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• Each #SettheTable2018 post features a delicious family table recipe(s) to inspire your meal planning for the week.  
• #CatchmyGrit on Instagram to follow the fun, the food and the family table reactions (good and bad) leading up to each weekend post. C'est la vie, I selfy-ishly light it UP in pics, videos and Instastories to keep truckin! 
• New to this series? Revisit my favorite #SettheTable2017 recipe links here. Cheers to another year of sharing my crazy food adventures with Pure Barre Kildeer!  

And yes that heart necklace made it through a burnin hot Valentine's Day Pure Barre workout!

It all starts at hOMe plate.

To the Mullies we go... 

xoxoL

ps

My Top 11 #SettheTable2018 Topics:

1. A Scientist Explores the Mysteries of the Gut Brain Connection
2. Will the Gut-Brain Connection Revolutionize Wellness?
3. Come to the table - Join Slow Food USA!
4. Stay on top of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Campaign.
5. Robyn O'Brien: Why Our Food Is Making Us Sick.
6. Kimbal Musk Wants to Reengineer the American Stomach | Why Food is the New Internet. 
7. What is Organic Pasture Raised Chicken Good for?
8. Shop with EWG "Clean Fifteen + Dirty Dozen" produce guidelines. Why? New research suggests pesticides/herbicides are linked to antibiotic resistance. Protect your gut microbiome + mycobiome.
9. Avoid artificial colors and preservatives to keep your "second brain" happy + healthy.
10. Why, When and How to Eat Wheat.
11. Why do Some People do well as Vegans and Vegetarians (Clues from the Magical World of Genetics).