Spiced Veggie-Bean Stew - It all started with the shrimp

Today, I got a little creative with supper. I didn't really want chicken (again!) and didn't have the time to pull together a roast. So, I went raiding my little freezer (you know the type - the one that's attached to the fridge) and found some forgotten frozen shrimp (peeled and deveined) and a bag of frozen scallops (jumbo-sized). So, I got to thinking, "How do I wanna cook these??" As I was scanning the kitchen, my eyes fell on the potatoes and onions. **Light Bulb!** One thing led to another until I had a pot full of stewy yumminess!

I hope you enjoy! (Sorry, no pictures.)



Spiced Veggie Bean Stew w/Shrimp & Scallops

3 tbs reserved bacon fat
2 jumbo potatoes, cut into 1" pieces
2 medium onions, thinly sliced in half-rings
3 garlic cloves, chopped (you can use the bottled minced garlic)
1 can black beans, undrained
1 can Hunt's fire roasted diced tomatoes with garlic (it's what I had on hand)
1/2 lb green lentils, rinsed and drained
1 c. chicken broth
4 c. water, plus more for thinning stew as desired
1 tsp. sesame seeds

1 tbs. smoked paprika
1 tsp. turmeric
1 tsp. curry powder
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. ground ginger


On medium heat, heat your fat in a soup pot. Add potatoes, cooking for about a minute - long enough for you to slice your onions and chop the garlic. Add the onions and garlic, cooking until the onions get soft. Add all the spices and mix well. Add the black beans and tomatoes; combine well. Add lentils, chicken stock, & 4 c. water. Allow to simmer until the lentils are completely cooked, adding water as needed - about 2 hours. About 10 minutes before serving, add the shrimp and scallops and cook until shrimp is pink and scallops are opaque. I like to serve with a dollop of sour cream on top.

This is a great stand-alone meal (meaning you don't have to add any meat/seafood) b/c both the black beans and the lentils provide so much protein.

You can use whatever other protein you want - smoked sausage, cubed precooked chicken/beef. I'm not sure about tofu since I don't cook with it.

To make it vegetarian, use vegetable broth/stock in place of the chicken broth and use your favorite cooking oil - vegetable, olive, coconut, etc - in place of the bacon fat.

Experiment with it! Customize it!

Honeybees

So, earlier this month, JP went to WT's school to talk about honeybees for their farming unit. The kids absolutely loved it!! Here are some pictures that I took:

A few of the girls

The smoker, which helps to calm the girls down when the hive's been opened.

WT holding George the Traveling Frog.

Rapt attention

 

The kids were expecting some bees to fly out when this hive was opened.

A beekeeper's outfit

The bees come in the regular mail in this special box.

WT's class singing "Baby Bumblebee" for us before going back inside.

 The kids had a great time.

 

Venturing out of the Coop

I will share my many other adventures from gardening to quilting here.