Instant Oatmeal and Lentil Soup

This week, I decided on two new projects--recipes. I was hoping for a pattern or book or something but we had food issues.

Chris was running out of oatmeal packets and needed more instant oatmeal for work days. I had seen a recipe for making your own instant oatmeal and thought it had to be better than the stuff in the packets. Where is the fruit, really?

The recipe is easy. I modified it from the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook I have.

11/2 c quick oats
1 c dried fruit
1/4 c nuts
1/4 c packed brown sugar
1/2 c dried milk optional-
(I like creamy oatmeal and the packets aren't what I would call creamy.)
1/2 tea. cinnamon
1/4 tea. nutmeg

Toast the oats if desired. Stir everything together. Store in an airtight container.

To serve, microwave 2/3 cup oat mixture with 3/4 cup water for 1 minute. Let stand till mixture reaches desired temperature. (Chris doesn't microwave the water and oats. He uses the hot water from the dispenser at work.)

Verdict: better than the packets. I will keep making it this way as it can be done in the time it takes to make out regular oats. When the summer comes and we can get fresh fruit, I will dry it so I won't have to buy dried fruit some of which is expensive. I assume this is cheaper considering a tub of plain instant oatmeal costs about the same as a 10 packet box of the other instant stuff. And Chris uses 2 packets for breakfast! I can pronounce everything I put in the mix too. Always helpful in my book.

The other food issue we had revolved around a ham Sensus gave to Chris for Christmas. It was huge! We had it for small group and used less than a quarter of the thing. Lots of ham. Finally, I cut it up to freeze for potato soup and other meals when baby comes. Even after all of that we had a bone left over. That calls for soup. I had lentils, more than I have recipes for. So I used the recipe on the bag of lentils praying that Chris would enjoy ham and bean soup from this recipe. Normally he doesn't like bean soup. It was also a success. So much so that he is looking forward to soup for lunch next week and said it is a repeatable recipe. Woohoo!

The recipe is also pretty easy.

1 lb lentils
1 meaty ham bone
1 clove garlic
1 onion
1 stalk celery
1 carrot
2 bay leaves
1 tea. mustard
1 small can tomato paste
salt and pepper to taste

Wash lentils. Chop veggies. Place everything but the tomato paste in a large pot with 3 cups water. Bring to boiling. Reduce to simmer. Simmer for 11/2 hours. Remove ham bone. Remove and chop the ham from the bone; return to pot. Stir in the tomato paste.

Everyone liked it. Abigail and I added a healthy dollop of sour cream. Perfect for this weather!

Still looking for buttermilk recipes from the failed yogurt experiment!