kale | A Dalectable Life

Just the day before, as I was walking Zeke, I came upon a little bit of green in the blah grey and brown that is November. It was supposed to be the basis of my next post. Then I got home started futzing around with my website (still can’t get my official name changed from the temporary one – GRRR!). Anyway, one thing lead to another and nothing really got done. There are days like that!

A little bit of green…

The next day, I’m doing what needs to be done: breakfast and lunches for the boys, making myself “perty” because we’ll be taping my next video with my hubby, making supper (hot chicken sandwiches with potato wedges at the request of my youngest), telling the boys to wipe down the dog after he’s come in from “doin’ his bidness” as he is wet…

It’s not like it wasn’t called for – on the radio, TV, newspapers…. First Snowstorm Is Coming!

“Yay, finally!” yell the kids; “Must prepare!” says the hubby, who then goes off to close up the tempo; “Whatever, c’est la vie”, says the mother (that would be me).

Do I think of whats in the garden? What “lasts until it’s pretty damn cold”? Nooooo!!!!

Kale in the snow

Sigh… it doesn’t seem frozen or wilted, maybe all is not lost? Fingers crossed as I face the slush that is my backyard to go and rescue my poor kale… as for the rainbow chard, doesn’t look good (can’t even see it under the snow so we’ll cross that one off!)

I am a soup-lover. I could eat one every day but, it seems to me you need to have a little bit of a chill in the air to really enjoy them – especially the hearty kind. But then, maybe that’s just me.

I went out for a walk with the pooch Tuesday morning and you could actually hear the falling leaves landing on the frozen ground! Alrighty then… we have just gotten a reality check! We are “Falling Back” with the clocks this coming Sunday which is a definite sign that winter is just around the corner.

Morning chill

That means it’s soup time! That heart-warming, feel-good meal that I love so much. I set to work.

I was in the mood for a lentil soup so I went through a couple of my standard cookbooks, compared recipes and then finally made my own!

Lentil Soup

Lentil Soup

2-3 Tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
2-3 carrots, diced
2-3 stalks celery, diced, keep leaves for garnish
2-3 garlic cloves, slice or chopped
2 cups of lentils, rinsed and picked over (I use Dupuy as they keep their shape well)
Salt & pepper
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried oregano
3 cups chicken stock (or veggie stock, or water)
3 cups water
1 can whole Italian tomatoes, hand-squeezed
Large bunch of kale, stem removed, and chopped

Heat olive oil in stockpot and gently sautée 1st four ingredients until soften but not browned, about 5-6 minutes. Add lentils and mix around to warm up, about 5 minutes. This allows the lentils to get coated in the mixture of oil & veggies. Sprinkle in seasoning.

Add stock and water and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and gently cook, partially covered, for 20 minutes or so – the lentils must be softened but still al dente and not mushy!

Add hand-crushed tomatoes, chopped kale and leftover celery tops (if using). Bring heat up to a low boil to cook kale, verify seasoning and adjust if necessary.

Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and a touch of wine vinegar.

Guaranteed to warm up your tummy!