[dropcap custom_class="normal"] L[/dropcap]ast night's meal, Vegan Lentil Sloppy Joes (my second #newrecipeaweek this week), came from Food52.
It was a hit with the hubby.
And, while I appreciated its flavor profile and the way it made my house smell, it was too spicy for my taste buds. (But I'm a wimp when it comes to spices. When dining out, I always order my Indian dishes "mild.") I'd probably make it again, but cut back on the chili powder.
What I appreciated was that this was a vegan Sloppy Joe that relied on lentils, not some sort of meat stand-in like tofu or seitan. It's just a whole food dish, that, aside from having to soak the lentils the night before, didn't take much time to pull together.
And for the record, my husband eats pretty much anything, including meat, and I'm a long-time vegetarian who also eats small amounts of fish and a couple "humanely treated cow" burgers a year *** — and who likes to experiment with all types of vegetarian/vegan recipes.
*** When I was working at the Colorado Springs Independent, I awarded an IndyPick during our annual Best Of competition to the one local place I go for a burger.
IndyPick • Reason to Temporarily Break Your Vegetarian StanceMarcello Burger at The Margarita at PineCreek
(7350 Pine Creek Road, 598-8667, coloradoeats.com/margarita/home.html)
I'm a vegetarian primarily for moral reasons. Most days I just can't detach the being that lived on this planet from the food it's become. And yet, a couple of times a year my body just craves meat. When this happens, I typically hold off as long as I can, then I turn to my husband and ask, "Margarita at PineCreek?" The Marcello Burger, available on the lounge and patio menu, is topped with gooey white cheddar, sweetly caramelized onions and, lord, oh lord, smoked bacon. It is protein perfection on a soft bun. And because Margarita is committed to working with Ranch Foods Direct and local ranches to source high quality, hormone- and antibiotic-free meat from humanely treated animals, I can take some solace in knowing those I'm consuming at least lived healthy, respected lives. — KA
And it can be so easy to get all caught up in the sparkle and shine of the turn of a year. But before we all get sucked into the newness of 2014, will you hang out with me for a bit while I revisit a few of my favorites of 2013?