Happy New Year!

You were once a young child, just as worthy of care as any other. Can you see yourself as a child? Wouldn't you wish the best for that little person? The same is true today: you are a human being just like any other - and just as deserving of happiness, love, and wisdom. ~ Rick Hanson, PH.D. (Buddha's Brain)

Time for resolutions, intentions, new beginnings and all that jazz. I wish you all love, peace, health, and happiness...after all, what more is there. Now that I will have some time off I intend to post more, much more, and finish up a lot of other things on my never ending "to do" list. I intend to do more yoga, smile more, and swear less. I don't talk like a pirate by any means but I am aware of it and I don't want to do it. I want to spend more time with the people I love and less with those that cause me stress. So if January 1, 2012 means letting go of the past and starting over again fresh why not start with some traditionally luck or prosperity bringing foods. Cooked greens, like kale, spinach, cabbage, and collards symbolizes money. Eating them on the first day of the new year is suppose to bring more money to you throughout the year. The same is true of legumes. Their small shape symbolizes coins and when they cook they grow. Eating them on the Jan 1st will bring you ever growing amounts of coins (money) throughout the year. This is my interpretation of a New Years Day Luck/Prosperity Lentil soup. Perfect for a cold January day.


New Years Day Luck/Prosperity Lentil Soup

1 T olive oil
2 T minced garlic
2 large onions, chopped
4 medium carrots, chopped
4 medium stalks celery, chopped (include leaves)
1 medium to large potato (can use sweet potato)
1 cup chopped sun dried tomatoes
2 t each- dried basil, oregano, rosemary, and parsley
1 t fennel seeds (slightly mounded)
4 bay leaves
4 cups red lentils (picked over and rinsed)
12 cups water, boiling water if using a Crock Pot or Pressure Cooker
a few of veggie bouillon cubes if desired although not necessary
4 or 5 cups chopped kale

This soup can be made in a pressure cooker really quickly or a slow cooker of on the stove. Do what ever you feel like doing.

If using a crock pot saute the veggies in a separate pan.

Saute onions and garlic in olive oil over med-high heat. Once they start to soften and smell nice add celery, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes and seasoning. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes. Depending on which way you are cooking proceed to step 1, 2 or 3.

1 - Dump everything, except the kale, into the crock pot and cook on high for about 3 hours, add kale and continuing cooking for another hour.

2 - For pressure cooker, dissolve bouillon (if using) in the boiling water and then dump everything, except the kale, into the pressure cooker and bring up to pressure over medium high heat. Reduce heat enough to maintain a high pressure, cook for 8 minutes and bring down pressure with the quick release method. (run cold water over the cooker) Add kale and cook traditionally until kale is done.

3 - If cooking traditionally add everything to the pan, except kale, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and let cook until everything is almost tender, add kale and continue cooking until everything is very tender.

Serve as is or over brown rice.