Mira Mesa Living

As part of our commitment to recognizing the diversity of our community, Mira Mesa Living will feature different recipes in each issue for you to try at home. In our September-October 2010 issue we feature a lentil soup, apple cake and spicy basil with pork.

Lentil Soup Recipe:

1/4 cup diced onions, sautéed in 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 cup dry yellow or red lentils

3 cups vegetable or chicken broth

salt and pepper to taste (at least ½ tsp of each)

Wash and sort the lentils, removing any debris that may settle there. Meanwhile bring the broth to a boil. Add seasonings, lentils, and any optional items as desired then cook until lentils double in size. Feel free to add more broth or water as needed, although this soup appears creamy when finished, not watery. Purée the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Ladle hot soup into bowls and garnish with 1 tsp fresh lemon juice for a bright, tangy taste or 1 tbsp plain yogurt for a cooler, creamy texture.

Makes six ½ cup servings.   Perfect to start any meal!

Apple Cake:

4 Tablespoon butter

½ cup sugar

1 egg

½ cup milk

1 cup flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

4 sliced apples (I use Granny Smith)

Preheat over to 350 degrees. With a mixer, cream together butter and sugar. Beat egg with milk, and add to creamed ingredients. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add to creamed ingredients. Stir just to combine. Pour into a 10-inch greased pie dish. Cover with sliced apples. Mix together an additional ¼ cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Sprinkle over sliced apples. Bake for about 30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, or eat alone; it’s just as good!

Spicy Basil with Ground Pork:

Ground pork                                      1/2 pound

Thai Basil                                              To Taste

Thai Chili                                              To Taste

Oyster Sauce                                     2 tablespoons

Fish Sauce                                           2 tablespoons

Sugar                                                     2 teaspoons

Garlic                                                     2 cloves (smashed)

Vegetable oil                                     1 tablespoon

Heat wok or pan to medium heat. Combine oil and garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Add chili and mix all for about 20 seconds. Combine pork until it is cooked about halfway. Then add fish sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar and stir until the pork is completely cooked. Sprinkle Thai basil, turn off the heat and serve on a bed of white rice. In Thailand, we generally eat with a fried egg… Yummy!!