As I’ve alluded to, since we moved to Fort Laudy, I’ve been slacking completely in the kitchen. With the exception of a couple Appetite for Reduction cooking kicks, it’s pretty much been non-existent. We’ve been mostly subsisting on mexican food, so not all that expensive, but after some unexpected car expenses this week, I figured I should probably get back in cooking mode, and try to stick to economical meals.

Yesterday was a rainy, gray day, and perfectly suited for a bowl of hot soup and straight outta the oven biscuits. Here I did a variation on two of my recipes: Curried Split Pea & Lentil Soup & Drop Biscuits. I adapted my soup to the veggies that needed using, and modified the flavor profile on my standard biscuits to match. It ended up being an orange & purple variation, using carrots, a tiny bit of sweet potato, purple potatoes, and sweet red onion, which was divine in this version. The biscuits got a cheezy flavor from the addition of nutritional yeast and thyme.

It’s a good thing I made such a healthy soup though, because we ate 7 of the 8 biscuits that I made. I said to Thomas “this is why we were fat when I was cooking all the time!” (In my reality being fat is keeping 2-3 pounds heavier, so don’t mind me!) Tonight I’ll reinvent it with some extra water/broth (it thickens tremendously overnight!), pearled barley and spinach.

Curried Split Pea & Lentil Soup – Red Onion & Purple Potato Variation

3 c. split peas and/or lentils, picked through & rinsed
(I used half green split peas and half red lentils)
12 c. of filtered water
2 – 3″ pieces of kombu (seaweed)

extra virgin olive oil for misting pan
1 medium red onion, roughly chopped
4 small carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
4-6 purple fingerling potatoes, peeled and cut in half
1 small sweet potato, peeled and cut into chunks

2 tbsp. good curry powder
pinch of garam masala
pinch of cumin
2 tsp. sea salt
Braggs or shoyu or tamari or red. sodium soy sauce, to taste (optional)
fresh ground pepper

Directions:

1. In a large dutch oven (5.5qt) or stock pot, bring 12 c. of water, seaweed, and peas/lentils up to a boil over high heat. Skim off any foam, cover, and lower heat to simmer for 1 hour.

2. Meanwhile, prepare other ingredients. You can either chop them all very finely or pulse in a food processor. Mist a large skillet with olive oil, and raise to medium heat. Add veggies, and saute, stirring often, until they begin to soften, about 5-10 minutes. Sprinkle mixture with half of the salt, cover and sweat at low heat for 10-15 minutes.

3. Add remaining seasonings and vegetable mixture to simmering soup. After initial hour, taste and adjust seasoning & cooking time if necessary.

Cheezy Drop Biscuits

2 c. flour of your choice (I used bread flour and thus skipped the optional gluten)
1 tbsp. vital wheat gluten, optional (extra protein, and added gluten for whole wheat flour)
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. of salt
1/4 c. nutritional yeast
pinch of thyme
fresh ground pepper

3 tbsp. non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening
1 c. of non-dairy milk

Makes 8-10 biscuits!

Directions:
Preheat oven to 450*F. Prepare cookie sheet.

1. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add shortening and cut in with a pastry blender or crumble with fingers until dough looks like fine crumbls.

2. Slowly stir in milk until combined. If dough seems too dry,  add a tablespoon of water. Drop dough into evenly sized balls on prepared cookie sheet. Bake for about 10-12 minutes. They will be slightly golden on top.