Receta Lentil and Meatball Stew; Season's Eatings; Weekly Menu
I have a confession.
But first...
Back to my confession.
I hate to clean.
I avoid cleaning at all costs.
The very best thing about being part of the 'briefcase and hose brigade' was having a weekly cleaner. Like magic, every Thursday night I came home to a clean house.
it was wonderful! Sigh.... (Allow me to wallow in the memory a moment.)
I realize that I could reclaim those feelings by cleaning my own house every week.
I had a good example. My mother cleaned her, already immaculate, house, top to bottom, every Friday. When she went back to work it was every Saturday.
The last time I cleaned my house was in July.
I think.
Oh, I do get out the hoover from time to time, and the broom, and a dust-cloth....
But that is what my mother would call a 'lick and a promise'. (what a bizarre saying!) rather than actual cleaning.
I have excellent excuses (note the plural).
I live in a construction zone. It gets a bit dusty. Every day.
We heat by burning wood - both in a stove and in a fireplace. It gets a bit sooty as well as more dusty. Every day.
I have an old dog that is getting more and more incontinent... Every day. Use your imagination.... But I'm very glad we have no carpets.
All that being said, I do have my standards.... Such as they are.
It's getting near the time to decorate for the holidays. I would never dream of decorating a dirty house.
Time to bite the bullet and clean.
Now I run into my other problem (they say confession is good for the soul - whoever they are).
I get carried away.
I start, for example, in the bedroom. I do an extremely thorough job: washing windows, cleaning out the corners on the ceiling, scrubbing the floor on my knees.....
Needless to say, it takes longer than expected.
I go on the the next room, the bathroom. I still do a pretty decent job but use the mop on the floor and skip the window.
Still longer than planned for.
I do a fair job in the living room, but then we keep it closed off so it doesn't get very dusty. Still, after 5 months, it needs attention.
I get to the family room and decide to only dust the surfaces one can see easily, give it a quick hoover and head to the kitchen.
I now have 20 minutes to clean the most used, most abused, dirtiest room in the house. I've been cleaning all day and, frankly, I don't care. I pour a glass of wine and sit in front of the stove..... thinking about the clean bedroom.
You see my problem.
I decided today to play to my weaknesses.
Since I do such a good job for about 2 hours - before I get bored with the whole cleaning thing and quit caring, I divided the house into sections and will do 2 - 3 hours of cleaning every day for 6 days.
Admittedly, there will not be a point when my entire house is 'clean', the first section will be dusty by the time I'm finished....
But it's better than nothing; it is what it is; and any other cliché you want to add.
On the 7th day I'm tucking into a bowl of stew and resting.
I'm following an excellent example!
And I do love stew!
Lentil and Meatball Stew
3/4 cup lentils either Lentils du Puy, tan, brown lentils or a combination.
- 1/4 cup red or coral lentils
- 2 1/4 cups beef stock
- 1 onion
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1 rib celery
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tbs oil
- 1 tbs paprika, smoky or sweet
- 1 can whole tomatoes, 15oz (450gr)
- 1/4 cup red wine
- 3 bay (laurel) leaves
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Meatballs
- Pick over lentils in case they missed the odd stone. Put green or brown lentils and beef stock in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer until lentils are done. They should absorb most of the stock. Don't let them dry out. Drain any remaining stock when done.
- Chop onion, pepper, celery. Mince garlic. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add paprika and sauté 1 minute. Add onion, pepper and celery, sauté briefly. Then add garlic, sauté a few minutes longer. Open and drain tomatoes, reserving juices. Roughly chop tomatoes. Add tomatoes, red lentils, all reserved juices, herbs and wine to skillet. Bring to a boil. Add meatballs. Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until meatballs are done, turning meatballs and stirring sauce periodically, 20 - 25 minutes.
- Meatballs
- 12oz ground beef (350gr mince)
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 tbs Dijon-style mustard
- 2 tbs ketchup
- 1/4 cup red wine
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
In medium bowl lightly whisk egg. Add breadcrumbs, mustard, ketchup, wine and herbs, mix well. Add beef and mix well. Form into meatballs, about 1 1/2 " (4cm) in diameter.
To serve: Add drained lentils to meatballs in skillet. Stir well to combine and serve.
In addition to the Stew for the week of November 26 we have Bacalao a la Marinera, Chicken and Cauliflower Savoyarde, Pork Chops with Ginger Caper Sauce, Hash Browns....
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