The Rainman Arrives!

Goodbye snowflakes! Hello raindrops!

The rain started falling, the temperature finally warmed up,

and the snow is beginning to melt. Hurrah!

The main roads are passable now,but our neighborhood is still socked in with snow and ice.

We're parking at the bottom of our neighborhood hill

and slipping and sledding up and down.

Ari and I finally made it to the gym today!

Thank goodness after nearly two weeks of snow

and being stuck at home with lots of holiday goodies,

I needed that treadmill!

We've hit a few of the after Christmas sales over the past day or two for family essentials; socks, jeans, and sweaters.

It was great to get out and about again.

Ari was in a state of bliss as she used her Starbucks card and bookstore card.

Time for another of my recipes, this one in honor of Kwanzaa which started yesterday. This stew is super fragrant. Your home will smell divine!

Julie Ann's African Lentil Sweet Potato Stew

1/4 cup butter (or spiced butter if you have it)

1 large red onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp powdered ginger

4 cups of peeled sweet potatoes or yams (or combo), cut up (1" pieces)

1 can diced tomatoes, with liquid

1/2 cup brown lentils

1 cup water

6 Tbsp of Berbere seasoning

Optional: 2 cups diced chicken or firm tofu

1) Melt butter in large pan, Add onion and garlic and cook over med-low for about 10 minutes. Add ginger and chicken or tofu, if using. Cook an additional 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, water, and Berebere seasoning.

2) Here are the cooking choices:

A) The way I did it - Place sweet potatoes/yams and lentils in crockpot and pour contents of pan over. Give a good stir. Cook on higher setting until the tubers and pulses are fork tender. (about 4 hrs)

B) Another way - Add sweet potatoes/yams and lentils to pan. Stir and cook over medium heat until tubers and pulses are fork tender. Stir to prevent sticking. (about 40 minutes)

3) This stew has a spicy kick. Serve with a salad and something bready. Injera bread is the traditional choice (and very easy to make), but any flat bread would be good. (This is so good, I've had it for dinner 2 days in a row!) Enjoy!