Spiced Lentil Soup

Ingredients

25ml oil

2 medium onions, chopped finely

2 medium carrots, grated

1 can of green lentils (450g)

200g dried red lentils

1.5 litres  stock

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp turmeric

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp cumin

2 tsp fresh ginger

2 tsp curry powder

Method

In a large pan, add the oil and onion. Saute the onions until they are cooked and are a light golden-brown.

Add the other ingredients and bring to the boil. Then reduce to a simmer, and cook for 15-20 minutes. Check seasoning, and serve. 

Notes

An option is to add 50g of finely diced pancetta at the same time as the onion is being sauteed. 

Fat Balls

When decluttering the baking cupboard, there one or two, okay, a few, okay, far too many packets of nuts and seeds. Rather than see them being tossed into the compost big, they have been transformed into fat balls to feed the birds. 

One was set out yesterday, and the birds have already come across it. Unfortunately, it in a location where I can't see the bird eat my tempting confection. I'm going to have to have a thought about where the next one will be placed. The ideal location is way from cats, but somewhere I can  watch the birds.

Kitchen Declutter - part 6

Day 6

empty and clean root vegetable drawer

declutter vegetables

return retained vegetables

empty and clean kitchen linens drawer

declutter kitchen linens

return retained linens

empty and clean foil and wraps drawer

declutter contents

return retained items

Kitchen Declutter - part 5

Day 5

empty teas and coffees drawers

clean drawers

declutter teas and coffees

replace retained teas and coffees

empty cutlery drawer

clean drawer

wash cutlery

replace cutlery

Kitchen Declutter - part 4

Day 4
Metal utensils drawer and wooden utensils drawer emptied
Drawers cleaned
Utensils decluttered
Remaining utensils replaced
Clear and clear worktops
Clean stove top

Kitchen Declutter - part 3

Day 3

emptied baking cupboard

cleaned cupboard

decluttered baking ingredients

replaced retained ingredients

Kitchen Declutter - part 2

Day 2

emptied under sink cupboard

cleaned cupboard twice

tidied away saucepans

found space for baking tins

Decluttering in 2026

We're back in the kitchen at the start of another year. It's a very fine place to start.

wash dishes

dry dishes

wash sink

clear worktop around sink

clean worktop around sink

clean window sill and attend to herbs

clear out baking tins cupboard

clean the cupboard

declutter unused plastic food containers

put away air fryer into cupboard (its new home)

put away mandoline, grater, kitchen scales and weights