Indian Red Lentil Soup~And Dorie's Double Chocolate Marble Cake~

Josée Di Stasios Indian Red Lentil Soup~
We watched her one evening..and when the show was done ..both Jacques and I wanted to try each soup she made.
I started with this red lentil one and it really is very good..
In our continuing minus 0's F temps here in QC..soup is de rigueur~down to -20 F one night..

I made Lady and the Pups fraudulent sourdough bread again but added 1/3 cup flaxseeds and 1/3 cup unsalted sunflower seeds..I make this one w/ my KA stand mixer.
It was perfect for this soup..and for the Chili we had another evening..
Baking wise I made the excellent Double Chocolate Marble cake..and was happy to see it printed out here..  from Baking Chez Moi.I have 3 of her books and each one is a favorite..I can't say that about every cookbook.
Beacuse my blog background is black,,I can't copy and paste..my font has to be white..:(
Also I am truly a terrible typist..:)
Hate making mistakes in transcribing a recipe..
This cake is like a pound cake..dense..but not crumbly and dry..The taste is divine.
I used a Hershey Dark chocolate bar..my husband seems to collect lovely dark chocolate bars of all kinds..and Callebaut white chocoltae.
You just cannot go wrong with a Dorie recipe..never has one not been grand.
This hits the spot with tea..coffee..milk.

I've watched some good movies lately ..I only watch TV at night..8-10 usually.
My fave shows..Downton..Call The Midwife..Parenthood..(I cry every episode)..The Affair is done for now..Spiral is not back on yet..House Of Cards..also done for now..Happy Valley..The Knick..Homeland..The Killing..Orange Is The New Black..Mr Selfridge..Suits..
My tastes run eclectic:)

So we do a lot of Netlix movies and HBO.

Finally saw August:Osage County..Brilliantly acted by Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts.Dark but very good.
Also on the dark side..Olive Kitteridge..Frances McDormand ,Richard Jenkins, Bill Murray,Zoe Kazan...Frances is fabulous.When I was polishing my mom's silver this week..I had  a flash  of Frances cleaning her fridge..and decided to polish..gently and with love:)Being mindful of every stroke:)
Oy..she is something in that movie..The last scene though..felt good to us for some reason.

Was happy to see Anna win a Golden Globe ♥

Was unhappy to see many actresses faces don't move anymore:(
We really fear looking older..why is it that in some countries..aging is to be revered?
Just a passing thought..I just feel some look like caricatures of themselves now.

Not Frances McDormand:)

I loved the artists workspaces in Italy..from well worn   and loved palettes to new ones..I could have spent the day just observing their spaces..their work..their habits.
If ever I go back I will.
And I will come back with some of their artwork.
I played too..sketching then painting my favorite chair ..10 minutes..again..should take way longer and do much better.
My 2014 Susan Branch Calendar is finished..they are never really finished though:)...so I can look at her pages and try and learn by trying to ..well you know...
My little art photos I took with a mini Ipad..they sure do a lot.
They let you read books..tell the time..gicve you messages..make you learn..tke photos..listen to music.
Tablets are a treat.



La recette~

By the way..you just put everything in a pot and simmer for ap 1 hour:)no sautéing etc..
It works!

1 can..28 ozs,,Italian tomatoes chopped
1/2 cup dry red lentils
1 cup roughly chopped white onions
3 cups of veggie or chicken stock
2 tsps ground coriander
1/4 tsp turmeric
1 tbsp grated ginger
1 good handful fresh coriander
salt and pepper to taste..

Place everything in a pot..bring to a boil..simmer 1 hr half covered.
Let cool a bit..  use your hand blender and make it come to your desired consistency.

You may notice that I have parsley for mine..which makes it way less Indian..But Jacques is not crazy about coriander..I can get away with a bit of ground coriander..but the handful of fresh would have not pleased him.
My kids on the other hand would love it the original way.
You can garnish this w/ a dollop of whipped crem that you have added curry powder to for a lovely effect and tatse.For some reason the small amount of cream I chose to use ..did not whip:)

I found a site ..forget where..before Christmas..that had beautiful words..I printed them up..they are..
they roll of your tongue..hoping I can remember many..
The first..
Ailurophile: A cat lover:) I know a few ..:)


PS..Donna..  has lost her reading list with Blogger..I know I have lost it on my Android..it has been months..on my other pc and Ipad I still have it..but it has disappeared and come back..
Anyone have any hints for Donna (See below in comments) to get her reading list back?
No fun..been there done that..
Help:)