Monday, March 22, 2010

Mother's Day and Meatless Monday

Hello out there! Hope you've had a great start to the week. Yesterday was Mother's Day in the Arab world. My husband was in Dubai for the day on business and came back with these frames. They look like old Arab doors but open up and a photo can be placed inside. The dried flowers on the right used to be bright red blooms on my balcony but the heat and dust got to them and this is what was left.

Over the weekend I picked up these two cookbooks dedicated to vegetables. Half price which made buying them even better.

I probably mentioned before that I am vegetarian. It happened sometime in May of last year. Not really a conscious decision. More of a progression of where I am in life. It's hard to explain. My husbands says it is hormonal. He thinks everything is.

My 11 year old hates most veges. And my family thinks I am making them suffer by not cooking meat anymore. Oh well! I thought I would share one of my favorite, easy meatless meals. It's not from these cookbooks, but it is one that I use over and over again as it takes little time to prepare and is healthy and nutritious. It's a complete meal when served with a side salad and garlic bread.

**********
Lentil & Spinach Pasta

2 TBS olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pinch red pepper flakes
1 (19 oz) can Progresso Lentil Soup
1 can diced or crushed tomatoes
1 (10 oz) package frozen chopped spinach
1 (16 oz) pkg ditalini pasta (or any small pasta, preferably whole wheat)
salt & pepper to taste
Grated parmesan cheese to serve

Brown onion and garlic in oil over medium heat. Stir in lentil soup and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Stir in spinach and spices. Simmer. Cook pasta in separate pot. Drain. Mix pasta with lentil mixture. Cover and keep warm for 20 min. Serve with parmesan cheese.

I hope you give it a try! Wishing you health and happiness, Tammy

24 comments:

GwendolynKay said...

Ha! only a man would say being a vegetarian is hormonal!Very nice frames Same got you... as you like doorways. Your family can eat meat when they go out to eat right? So you are keeping them as healthy as possible at home..that is a good mother! I am off to the doctor today.. will email you about it later... nothing serious.
love ya!
Gwen

Susan said...

Sounds tasty, Tammy. I love lentils and pasta. Great combo. Thanks for the post. Hope you have a good and happy day. Sincerely, Susan

Anonymous said...

Great start to my week!! I am finally feeling wonderful!!
I am what I call semi-vegatarian..LOL!! Yeah, I know the irony there. But I have trouble digesting fatty meat, especially pork & some beef cuts so I really don't eat much meat.
Don't feel bad about your DH saying every little oddity he sees is hormonal.....Up until a couple of years ago my DH said everything I did was due to menopause...LOL!!
Whatever...right!!
Have a wonderful week Tammy!!
Love,
Marilyn
xxoo

Marilyn said...

That looks good. I have some lentils, somewhere!
Your blog is so interesting. Love all the photos of things one doesn't see everyday.
Glad the weather has improved. We are getting wonderful rain today. It will help clean the trees, not from dust, but pollen, already!
Have a great day Tammy.
Another Marilyn!!

Melanie said...

I got a dreamy look on my face as I read your post today! Thanks for sharing a recipe. I love lentils and am going to make this tomorrow for dinner. I'm excited! If you end up loving the cookbooks, please give information on them as I am always looking for new vegetarian cookbooks - highly recommended are the best kind!

Cape Cod Rambling Rose said...

Oh how I LONG to be a vegetarian! But I have some hearty meat-eaters in my house... so when they are older, then I hope to become fully vegetarian. I have a wonderful vegetarian magazine I subscribe to and have made many dishes from it, but with my hungry men those veggie meals always end up as "side dishes"! ;) This recipe looks fabulous - thank you for sharing it!

Claus said...

I'm amazed at life's pleasant coincidences. I am too a vegetarian!!! :-o I've been so for a few years now out of ethical beliefs and love for animals. I'm so happy we have that in common!
The recipe looks delicious. I love spinach, pasta and lentils (yum!), but have never tried them all together. Will try.
Have a lovely day!!

glor said...

Ohh, a recipe and one that sounds so good ... all of my favorites! This is going into the kitchen to be made. Thank you sweetie!

Have a wonderful day/night.

~*~ saskia ~*~ said...

Your post made me laugh. Love your dried flowers! That meal looks truly delicious. I often trow some spinach in my pasta or in my lasagna... Delicious and so so healthy ;o) I think there are so many great veggie meals these days. Even when your not a vegetarian I think it would be good to have at least one day each week eating no meat...

Have a wonderful week, sweet Tammy! xo

Bunnym said...

I actually like the look of the dried up flower..you hubby always brings home something exotic for you, but then, you live in an exotic place...lol After my surgery I've noticed that my mind and body are trying to tell me to ease up on the meat...and I have...I've survived.

tootles,
bunny

Rostrose said...

Hmmmm, sounds great (but my family would suffer, too - my husband hates spinach and my daughter would search for some ham between the noodles ;o)) I had to laugh - "hormonal" is great! Oh yes, men!!! But the frames he gave you for mothers day look really pretty (and exotic for an Austrian ;o))
Warm spring-hugs, Traude

Stella said...

What lovely frames. Love all the texture on them. I will have to try your recipe. My husband has had a heartattack so we are trying to eat healthier.

Hearts Turned said...

What lovely frames he brought you, Tammy! Your recipe looks yummy--I'll have to give it a try!

Hope you're having a wonderful day!

Yarni Gras! said...

oh, that looks GOOD. I'll print it off and try it out. We aren't vegetarians....but none of us are big meat eaters so we go meatless about twice a week....

Happy Mother's Day!

crochet lady said...

I wish you well with your choice of eating. I did eat that way for a while, but couldn't keep up with cooking for family and cooking for me. I still really don't like to cook meat and there are some thing I just won't eat.

That recipe sounds tasty. Thanks for sharing it.

Kristin said...

That looks so good! I think veggies are probably one of my favorite foods, especially the green ones. So excited that you stopped by my blog!

Diane said...

I laughed out loud when I read the part about your husband thinking everything is hormones. Sounds like around here!

Your recipe sounds good, I should try it. I also like the idea of meatless Monday. If I could just remember. Diane

Vicki Boster said...

Hi Tammy - Wow - a new visitor to my blog! I don't think we have met before - but I am so glad you stopped by. You know, my husband is an engineer, retired from the goverment now, but he spent over a year in Kuwait just after the war. Bet you guys could share some stories!

Your blog is amazing - so colorful and full of great stories. There is so much I would like to know about you over there. What you do? How long have you been there? Do you like it there?

I am saving your blog and coming back to visit again. I love all your great stories.

Thanks for your kind comments about my baby blanket - I am so glad that you like it. Please visit again soon--

Vicki

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Tammy,

I hope that you had a happy Mother's day and love the frames your husband brought back.
They look like good books and a good idea to eat less meat. Daughter has decided to go vegetarian but Son could never do that. Hard isn't it to please everyone.

happy week
Hugs
Carolyn

terri said...

I love the frames and the recipe is a must-try. Thanks for the visuals. Glad you stopped by for a visit on my blog and I look forward to your next post.

Sandi said...

Happy Mothers Day Tammy!! I could very easily be a vegtarian! I don't like most meat , but I do eat some. Mostly chicken and turkey. I have always been that way since I was little. I just didn't like meat much. My mom would make me a scrambled egg while everyone else ate pork chops or something else. But I LOVE vegetables and a good salad. :)

Your cans turned out so pretty too! Great job!
Have a beautiful day today.
Hugs~

Linda said...

Happy Mother's Day ♥ The frames are lovely and I like to bring in dried flowers (I did this with my Hydrangeas). :)

My Dad, my daughter and I could all easily be vegetarian I believe, because while I typically do prepare a meat item because that's what I was used to growing up and because husband hardly considers it a meal without some sort of meat (except for pasta dishes), neither my Dad, daughter or I eat much of the meat (only a few bites, if that). I've just always preferred vegetables instead.

Thanks for the delicious looking recipe - I'll have to give it a try. :)

Hope you have a wonderful remainder of March - I won't be here much in the coming days, as we're heading to Florida on Friday with Sarah and three of her friends, so I'll check in when we return in April.

Blessings always,
Linda

Anonymous said...

How thoughtful of Sam to bring such beautiful gifts. I have seen the doors that open up into picture frames before - they are beautiful. Did you have your Mother's Day brunch yet? I look forward to hearing about it.
I LOVE that recipe that you posted today. I know I have it here somewhere, but now, I will have to make it. I saw the title and knew which one it was. YUMMY!!
The boys should be thankful that you put good food on the table each night. If Zack is that unhappy, send him on a plane to stay with Winnie. He would be in heaven... HA!

Have a great Tuesday!

Love,
Renee

Jodie (everything vintage) said...

Hi Tammy!
I know this sounds crazy BUT...I really love your flowers that color! They look so old...I just love them! The frames are pretty too. That is so cool of your husband to bring home gifts for you...he's a keeper ;)
The recipe looks fantastic but I think I'd have to chop me up some pork or chicken to put in there too ;)
Maybe I'M the one who is hormonal! haha

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