GRAINS OF PARADISE

While watching the Food Network (me and T's favorite channel - really, the only one we watch) the other day...

"This is a super easy recipe. Hey! That's funny - SOUPer easy SOUP! Hah!"

Oh Rachel, we love you so much more than we'll ever love Giada! One word: PERSONALITY. And look, she has a blog! A cute one that seems like she actually updates herself.

And speaking of soup, let's make lentil soup from scratch sometime (this is from Alton Brown!):

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 pound lentils, picked and rinsed
1 cup peeled and chopped tomatoes
2 quarts chicken or vegetable broth
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground toasted cumin
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground grains of paradise

Place the olive oil into a large 6-quart Dutch oven and set over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion, carrot, celery and salt and sweat until the onions are translucent, approximately 6 to 7 minutes. Add the lentils, tomatoes, broth, coriander, cumin and grains of paradise and stir to combine. Increase the heat to high and bring just to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook at a low simmer until the lentils are tender, approximately 35 to 40 minutes. Using a stick blender, puree to your preferred consistency. Serve immediately.

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Wait...what's grains of paradise??

xoxo,
Claire