I am so stupid. Is it any wonder I have no money

[phipps]

I have more food in the house than we will eat before I next do a food shop. I really need to just buy enough for the week, don't I?
I think I will have to make a note of what I have to use it all up, start again and then just buy what we need for the week.

Does anyone else have more food than they need and have some stuff that stays in the cupboard for weeks on end.

Does this post win the prize for most pointless one of the decade day?

TheProvincialLady - I am making your lentil recipe now.

TPL

Are you hinting Colditz?

Let us know how you get on Phipps...I could do with some myself, except that I am in bed with tonsilitis and will have to accept whatever DH brings (I'm trying not to think of the baked bean innovations or the 'simple pasta meals' which always have peas and large chunks of potato in them, which I have been served before whilst ill)

It does sound phenomenal

my lentil soup recipe is: ( don't worry about quanities it's very flexible)

2 carrots washed and chopped
1 sm. onion or half a leek
1 cup of red lentils
1 stick celery (optional)
bay leaf (optional) bit of oil
water
s&p

heat oil in large pan. sweat veggies for 5 mins. add about 1 pt water ( but you migh t need to top up). Simmer for about 30 mins. Blend in a blender- take out bay leaf first.
add seasongin.

if you want, you can also add bacon - chopped up- and either blend or leave whole.

I don't have cumin seeds. What can I use instead please?

Hope you get better soon TPL.

Hmmm....you could use a tablespoon of ground cumin I suppose. Or some crushed coriander seeds, black mustard seeds and chilli. It will still be nice without spice though, just a bit more plain.

No cumin at all though I do have coriander seeds. How long to cook the lentils please? The packet says 40 minutes but I am cooking half it says in its recipe.

What kind are they? Brown will generally cook a bit quicker than puy but it depends how old they are too. 40 minutes is probably about right, but check them after 20 minutes.

Red split lentils. They are going be rubbish ones, I just know it.

Are they cooked when all the water has gone?

Kids didn't like the lentils but I did, had them with butternut squash rice. Bit hotter than I was expecting but very nice and I am hoping they are healthy and will keep me full so I can lose weight. Thank you. I will try the soup in the week as well as the Spanish omelette. I have pumpkin muffins in the oven.

Sorry, was just eating lunch and entertaining DS2.

Well I've never made this with red lentils so it is going to be a completely different dish (but still tasty I'm sure). Red lentils cook really quickly but they don't have the same meaty flavour as brown/puy. If you haven't already eaten this then what I would do is:

In a frying pan, put 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable oil and heat until really hot
In a small bowl put any or all of the following:

2 dried chillis or some chilli flakes
2 tsp crushed coriander seeds
1/2 tsp turmeric
2 tsp black mustard seeds
2 tsp garam masala powder
4-6 cardamom pods or 1/2 tsp seeds

When the oil is good and hot, throw the spices in all together and stir for about 15 seconds, then throw the oil and spices into the red lentils and stir. Make sure you taste now to see whether it needs salt.

Sorry, cross posts. I'm glad the red lentils turned out ok but I can really recommend having another go sometime with puy lentils and the cumin seeds. It's completely different.

The muffins sound nice - are they sweet or savoury?

I feel a challenge coming on - I'm not going to buy ANYthing apart from fresh essentials until everything has run out. Gawd knows what's lurking at the bottom of my chest freezer

I'd be up for that - I hate running out of things and as a result have enough food to feed an army! Of course it all gets pushed to the back of the cupboard so I cant see what I have so I buy some more chopped tomatoes or beans or whatever.
I'll make a list later of what I have and try to use it all up. There could be some interesting combinations.....

I will definitely get some different lentils. The muffins are pumpkin flavour. Not having any though as they have sugar in and I am trying to avoid it.

A postscript - bought puy lentils especially to try TPLs recipe and can report back that it is indeed delicious. I know it doesn't count as using up what you've got but there you go.

What does your DH like?

Re the lentils, just add a handful in veg soup (homemade) and cook for about 20 mins. If you whizz them up, no one will notice!