Bad Breakfast idea #234: Protein Cheerio Shake.

I got out of the shower this morning at 8:40. I teach at 9:10. Granted I only live three minutes from my building, but I still had to get dressed, help a bit with the kids, get some breakfast, finalize a few things for my lesson plan, and get out the door--In short, I was feeling a little rushed. I got dressed and poured myself a bowl of Cheerios, but as I reached in the fridge for the milk I remembered that I was scheduled to donate plasma at noon and realized that cereal probably wouldn't be enough to keep me coherent during the donation process. So I set the cereal down and pulled out the chocolate protein powder. After whipping up a glass of 100% whey protein chocolaty goodness I took another look at the bowl of still-dry cheerios on the counter. I looked at the protein shake in my hand, and back at the cheerios, and then at the milk jug on the counter, and without giving it another thought, poured the protein shake over the cheerios. It really wasn't that bad--just kind of thick, and well, everything tasted a bit like sawdust. I wouldn't recommend it. What did you have for breakfast?

Simple Red Lentil Soup

Last night for dinner we had a near perfect main dish. Perfect doesn't mean it's the best tasting dish ever. It means it fits well into my not-so-easy-to-define parameters of a good meal. These have been added slowly and not everything I make fits into them but when a dish does, it pleases me!
Quick & Simple
Low dairy (yogurt and cheese though are okay in small amounts)
Whole grain
Good fats: (olive oil, coconut oil)
TASTES GOOD
Little meat or non at all
Family approves (not difficult!)
Inexpensive
Low on preservatives, or anything from Whole Foods Market's list of unacceptable ingredients
Local and or organic if possible (see inexpensive, or always a paradox)

Here it is, then:

Red Lentil Soup
7 Cups water

2.5 Cups red lentils, rinsed (or Masoor Dal)

1 large onion, chopped

2 to 4 TBL lemon juice

ground cumin (lots)

salt and pepper

Saute onions, add water and then lentils. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to med-low, partially cover, and simmer for 30 to 60 minutes. Stir in lemon juice, cumin, salt and pepper.

I serve it with a little garlic powder mixed too.

Recipe from Raising Vegetarian Children.

It's pretty good for being so simple! I like the lemon juice, I haven't tried it with fresh lemons but I'm sure that would be so much better.