curried red lentil soup & savory biscuits

serves 4 - 6 from Bob's kitchen.

soup:

1 1/2 cups split red lentils

1 (3 inch) piece of kombu

2 quarts cold water, or for a richer taste, use 1 quart stock, 1 quart water

1 large onion, finely diced

1 carrot, sliced

1 celery rib w/ leaves, halved lengthwise & chopped

2 tbls butter or light sesame oil

1 tbls Mellow Curry Powder ( see below)

sea salt & pepper

garnish with plain yogurt & fresh cilantro

to do:

- in stock pot on high heat, combine lentils & kombu & water/stock. bring to a boil

- skim off any foam, reduce heat to low & simmer until lentils are tender, from 20 -45 min

- meanwhile, in a heavy skillet, combine onion, carrot, celery, butter, curry powder & 1/2 tsp salt. saute over high for 2- 3 min, reduce to low & cook 15 min.

- remove & discard kombu

- using a spatula, scrape veggies & juices into the lentils, simmer for 10 min

- adjust seasoning to taste, garnish & serve

Mellow Curry Powder:

2 tbls coriander seeds

1 tbls cumin seeds

1/2 cinnamon stick

1 tsp caraway seeds

1 tsp fennel seeds

1 tsp black peppercorns

1 1/2 tbls turmeric

1 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp ceyene pepper

- in heavy pan over medium heat, combine coriander, cumin, cinnamon, caraway, fennel & peppercorns. toast about 2 minutes

- transfer toasted seeds & cinnamon to a clean coffee mill & grind into a powder. transfer to a bowl & add turmeric, ginger & cayene.

- store in a glass jar in a cool dark place

Savory Biscuits:

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp dill weed

1 tsp tarragon

3 tsp raw sugar

3 tsps + more for topping the following mixed ( sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic & onion)

1/4 cup whole milk

1/4 cup plain yogurt

6 tbls cold butter

- mix all dry ingredients in a bowl

- cut in butter until coarse

- combine milk & yogurt in a bowl & add to butter & flour

- smash together on a floured surface, lightly wipe with milk & sprinkle poppy seeds etc on top.

- bake at 425 for about 15, watch so they don't burn