Tuesday, October 02, 2012

Lentil Enchilada Casserole (Can be Vegan)


I have enjoyed trying out several of  The Vegan Cajun's recipes. I always enjoyed her Pampered Chef recipes before she became vegan...and her vegan recipes are just as yummy.  This one is based on a Pampered Chef recipe. 

3-4 C cooked lentils (drained)
1 10 oz can enchilada sauce
1 T Taco Seasoning Mix (Pampered Chef's SW seasoning)
1/2 tsp sea salt
3/4 C water
1/2 C salsa
12 yellow corn tortillas
1/4 C snipped cilantro
1 C shredded cheese or vegan cheese (OPT)

Combine cooked lentils, seasoning, salt, enchilada sauce, water, and salsa. Simmer for 5 -7 minutes. Cut tortillas into 1" pieces.  Don't cut back on sauce...liquid will cook down.

In a microwave safe dish arrange 1/2 the tortilla pieces, top with half the lentil mixture, half of the cheese, if using and 2 T of cilantro. Top with remaining tortillas, lentil mixture and optional cheese. microwave for 5 min or until hot and bubble. Top with remaining cilantro.

I made a big dish with cheese for the family - and a small one without for me. I sprinkled nutritional yeast on top and I didn't miss the cheese.

They didn't eat much of this - too spicy for them. I'll use the mild salsa next time. I enjoyed making ONE dinner which was easily adapted for all of us instead of cooking a "main meat entree" and a "main veggie entree."  No photo...oops. Visit here to see a photo. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

THAT is NOT a Sweet Little Pinch


Tuesday's are EXHAUSTING; but FULFILLING.  The good thing is we are all exhausted after our morning in the PCOC rooms .... so we all take it easy together.


Yesterday, we discovered the kids could cut out things for PCOC while I read to them....win/win for us.

Stacia had the big shot today - MMR.  I let them talk me into two shots. We were given a big long talk about what to worry about and what is normal...For those new to the saga she had a reaction as a tiny infant to shots, given the history of her great-grandmother being paralyzed after a shot, and the info about shots and the spectrum.... we delayed future shots...Last year the peditrician felt she was good to try shots again and we decided to go for it - one shot at a time.  She's done well. They saved the MMR and she needed Hep A. So - we went for these two. She'll need the 2nd dose in 6 months....then (except for  Chicken Pox) she'll be up to date with all of them until she is 11. She did GREAT today. She didn't flinch or fuss....The tech told her, "Just a sweet little pinch," and she primly informed him, "THAT is not a sweet little pinch." I forgave her cheekiness.

They offered us the option of getting the first Chicken Pox shot - but they don't have the 2nd ones in and aren't sure they'll be in when it's due... she'd have to start all over with it if it isn't here. We'll just do it in the states, I think. Maybe she'll catch Chicken Pox before the shot comes in?

Her bravery was rewarded with all the kids taking a trip to Baskin Robbins. The older two retold the story of Zander's last shot. They were in a DIFFERENT part of the clinic and could HEAR HIM SCREAMING! He was her age.

We ran a couple of errands and then it was time to come home for me to make dinner and the kids to get a bit of time romping around outside.

Dinner was Lentil Enchilada Casserole, Roasted Ratatouille , Yellow Rice, Salad and yummy Cantaloupe. I'm not sure the casserole was a hit, but I'll try it again with a milder salsa (I was glad I didn't follow my instinct to add Chilies)....recipe to follow.

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Yuuki Tracks a Snake


Zander used to run with Jared. Arielle and Yuuki have been running with Zander since Jared went to college. The S girls began to run with them. They run five mornings a week.


As they were running on the paths through the rice fields on Monday, Mollie found a snake skin.  For the whole 30 min run Yuuki was "dogging"  Mollie. When Mollie zigged and zagged Yuuki zigged and zagged.  They began to walk as they entered our subdivision.  Yuuki looked up at Mollie and finally FOUND what she'd been tracking...the snake...in Mollie's hand. Before they could stop her she jumped up and bit the tail off. She was pretty proud of herself...and now we know she would fight a snake if need be.

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...