Pumpkin Lentil Curry

1/2 cups (290 g) red lentils

3 cups plus 2 tbsp water, for sauteeing, divided

2 medium size yellow onions, finely chopped

1 tbsp minced ginger

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 can (15 oz) light coconut milk

798 mL can pumpkin puree

1 tbsp curry powder

1/4 tsp cayenne

1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut (optional)

1/2 tsp salt

Heat 2 tablespoons of water in a large saucepan. Add onions, ginger, and garlic, and cook until onions are translucent, about 6 minutes.

Add lentils, remaining 3 cups water, coconut milk, pumpkin, curry powder, cayenne, and optional coconut, and cook over low-medium heat until lentils are mushy but still retain body and texture, 35 to 40 minutes.

Stir occasionally, and keep an eye on how quickly the liquid is evaporating. If it evaporates too quickly, you may need to add more water or milk before the lentils are cooked. Add salt. Serve over rice.

Zucchini Chili

Ingredients

4 poblano peppers
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 pounds firm small to medium-size zucchini, chopped into small dice
2 onions, chopped into small dice
3 to 4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 red or green hot chile pepper, chopped or thinly sliced
1 tablespoon cumin, palmful
1 tablespoon coriander, palmful
A few sprigs fresh thyme, chopped
1 teaspoon dried oregano or marjoram, 1/3 palmful
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 (12-ounce) bottle beer (recommended: Negra Modela)
1 (15-ounce) can black beans
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup long grain white or light brown rice
2 cups baby spinach
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves, optional
Toppers to choose from: crushed tortillas or warm soft tortillas, sour cream, shredded cheeses, scallions or finely chopped onions, lime wedges

Directions

Char the skins of the poblano chiles by placing them over a gas burner or under a hot broiler with the oven door slightly cracked. Turn the chiles until the skins are black. Remove and cool the chiles in a tightly covered bowl, then peel and finely chop or process into coarse puree in food processor.

Heat extra-virgin olive oil over medium-high heat and add zucchini, onions, garlic, hot pepper, cumin, coriander, thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper, stir frequently for 10 minutes. Add in the tomato paste, and stir 1 minute more. Deglaze the pan with beer, stir in poblanos and beans and about half of the stock, bring to a bubble then reduce heat and simmer 10 to 15 minutes to combine flavors. Cool completely, cover and store for make-ahead meal. Reheat over medium heat.

While the chili reheats make the rice. Melt the butter in a saucepot over medium heat and add the rice, toast a minute or 2, then stir in 1 1/2 cups stock, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and cook covered, over low heat 15 minutes.

To food processor, add the spinach, cilantro, if using, and a little salt, and pulse into a fine paste. Stir the paste into the rice after 15 minutes. Turn off the heat, cover the pot and let the rice stand another 5 to 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve in shallow bowls with zucchini chili and toppings of choice to garnish.

Beef Bourguignon with Barley

1 tablespoon good olive oil
5 Slices bacon, diced
2 1/2 pounds chuck beef cut into 1-inch cubes
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 pound carrots, sliced diagonally into 1-inch chunks

3 rubs celery
2 yellow onions, sliced
4 teaspoons chopped garlic (4 cloves)
1/2 cup Cognac
1/2 bottle good dry red wine such as Cote du Rhone or Pinot Noir
4 cups beef broth
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (1/2 teaspoon dried)

1 tsp dried parsley

4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature, divided
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 pound frozen whole onions
1 pound fresh mushrooms stems discarded, caps thickly sliced

1 cup quick cooking barley

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.

Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven. Add the bacon and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is lightly browned. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon to a large plate.

Dry the beef cubes with paper towels and then sprinkle them with salt and pepper. In batches in single layers, sear the beef in the hot oil for 3 to 5 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Remove the seared cubes to the plate with the bacon and continue searing until all the beef is browned. Set aside.

Toss the carrots, and onions, 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of pepper in the fat in the pan and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the Cognac, stand back, and ignite with a match to burn off the alcohol. Put the meat and bacon back into the pot with the juices. Add the bottle of wine plus enough beef broth to almost cover the meat. Add the tomato paste and thyme. Bring to a simmer, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and place it in the oven for about 1 1/4 hours or until the meat and vegetables are very tender when pierced with a fork.

Combine 2 tablespoons of butter and the flour with a fork and stir into the stew. Add the frozen onions. Saute the mushrooms in 2 tablespoons of butter for 10 minutes until lightly browned and then add to the stew. Add barley and bring the stew to a boil on top of the stove, then lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Season to taste.