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What type of lentils works best here? I used little brown ones I bought in an Italian market, and had to use 1/2 as much water as this recipe calls for. Luckily I suspected this and figured I'd add more if I needed to, so mine did not turn into mush. But different types of lentils cook differently and require different amounts of liquid.

Quickie quesadilla - corn tortillas with shredded cheddar, cooked on a frying pan (no oil!). I cook it til the tortillas get a little toasty brown and the cheese is all melty. I eat this with a little salsa verde. Simple and yummy.

I love how in Chinese restaurants, they steam a whole fish and just pour a little soy sauce over it and sprinkle with scallions and a bit of sesame oil. So simple, fresh and delicious!

I made up a dish I called "Mediterranean Chicken" from a handful of different recipes and ideas. I stuffed boneless chicken breasts with a mix of feta, capers, chopped green olives, a pinch of red pepper flakes, and olive oil. I salt & peppered the chicken, topped it with a thin slice of lemon, and baked. I topped the cooked chicken breasts with a tomato, toasted pine nut and oregano mix, and served a salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, parsley, rice wine vinegar and olive oil on the side. It always looks so fresh and pretty! And tastes great too!

Glass of wine, cheese, pate and good bread or fancy crackers - decadence!

My bf and I went out for dim sum in Brooklyn Chinatown a couple months ago. It was a little late for dim sum (around 3pm) so the restuarant wasn't quite full, but not dead either. We were seated at a table in the corner, and proceeded to order goodies from the carts. As I took my first bite, I noticed the elderly grandma at the table in front of us staring at my bf as if she was staring at the "white devil" himself (I'm Chinese, he's white). That was funny, until 2 minutes later, we noticed grandma helping her daughter change a baby's diaper! Right in front of us as! I looked at my bf, and with a horrified look on his face, he said "if I get even a whif of ..." (thankfully it was only a pee diaper). People, diaper changes in the dining room, no matter what's in them, is completely inappropriate and GROSS.

Sweet Melissa in Brooklyn makes these AMAZING pumpkin spice sandwich cookies with a cream cheese filling, like super-rich, soft pumpkin oreos. Completely addictive! I would love to learn how to make these!

A salad with fresh, seasonal farmer's market ingredients - greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and anything else I can find, with a little simple dressing of lime juice, a splash of rice vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper.

I love most veggies - in salads, roasted, steamed. One of my new discoveries this past summer was a sauce made of eggplants, tomatoes and onions, with garlic, basil, and a little olive oil. It doesn't get much more simple or healthy than this! Serve over short pasta, like penne, or bake an egg in a small dish of this yummy sauce. Can't wait for tomatoes to be back in season!

Crisp!

filet

I had a lovely chilled avocado soup at The Farm on Adderley just a few months ago. It had a slight hint of vinegar, I think, but still tasted of avocado, nothing in it was overpowering its flavor. I would LOVE if someone could get that recipe!

Dim sum for this little piggy!