In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened and beginning to brown (about 8 minutes). Stir in ginger and tumeric and cook 1 minute.
Add 6 cups water, drained lentils and dates, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 30 minutes.
Preheat oven into 350 degrees F. Stir in tamari sauce and transfer lentils to a greased 2-quart baking dish or casserole. Cover and bake 30 minutes, then uncover, top with coconut, and bake 15 to 20 minutes longer ,or until lentils are tender and coconut is golden. Garnish with cilantro before serving.
Serves 8
Nutrition: Black Lentils are high in fiber and protein. Also known as Beluga lentils, they are fast cooking and do not require presoaking.
Use a cast iron skillet for pan toasting bread, since cast iron heats up faster, and stays hot longer than other metals.
Cast iron skillets come in handy during an electric power failure. Camping enthusiasts can also enjoy their morning toast in a heavy skillet. For anyone living in a small apartment, with little counter, or closet space, skillets can be stored on wall racks.
Skillet Toast VS Electric Toaster
Electric Toaster
The difference between skillet toast and an electric toaster, is that you have to watch the toasting progress in order to prevent burning. In an electric toaster, you set the timer, and the toast is done automatically. Larger skillets accomodate bagels, English muffins, thick bread, and long slices, cut from a loaf of round artisan bread. You can also reheat pancakes. Standard electric toasters limit the size and thickness of bread to square bread slices.
Instructions
Spread a generous amount of cooking oil over the bottom of the skillet If you skip this step, the toast will burn.
Heat up the skillet over a low to medium flame.
Place bread in skillet. Turn bread over when one side is toasted.
Remove bread from skillet. Place in dish. Add favorite toppings.
How To Add Seed Toppings During Skillet Toasting
If you like seeded bread, but don’t have any on hand, transform an ordinary slice of bread by adding seeds during toasting.
Cast Iron Skillet French Toast
Place bread in warm, well-oiled skillet.
Add cooking oil to bread. Sprinkle caraway, or sesame seeds over the oiled bread, and place in skillet.
After one side is toasted, flip the bread over, and repeat on the other side.
NOTE: Some of the seeds will fall off into the pan, but many will stick to the oiled bread. For this process you might want to use a low flame. This gives the seeds a chance to soften during toasting. If they don’t soften, you will have a mouthful of uncooked seeds. Unless you enjoy chewing on raw caraway seeds, be patient and allow the seeds to soften before removing the bread from the skillet
Garlic Oil Topping
Line the skillet with garlic oil instead of ordinary cooking oil. Melt a slice of cheese over the bread during toasting.
Where To Buy Cast Iron Cookware
You can buy cast iron skillets from Lodge Cast Iron. Their skillets are an American product, made in Tennessee. If you’re planning to toast single slices of bread, get the 6.5″ skillet. Lodge sells bigger skillets that will hold more. Cast iron is heavy. The bigger skillets weigh more. If you’re planning to store them on a wall rack, be sure you have one that can handle the weight.
1 large eggplant, sliced into 1/2 inch thick round pieces
2 eggs, beaten with a fork
1 1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 jar marinara sauce (32 oz.)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional Topping: 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
I N S T R U C T I O N S
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Dip eggplant into eggs, coating both sides. Remove eggplant from eggs, and coat each slice on both sides with bread crumbs. Coat baking sheet with oil. Place eggplant slices on baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes. Turn eggplant, and bake another 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven.
In an 8 x 10 baking plan, begin layering marinara sauce with eggplant, and mozzarella cheese. Leave enough cheese for the topping. Increase the oven temperature to 475 degrees. Bake until cheese melts. If desired, top the dish with grated parmesan cheese.
1 Teaspoon Dried or 1 Tablespoon Fresh Chopped Thyme, Oregano or Parsley
INSTRUCTIONS
Drain all liquid from tofu. This should take about 20 to 30 minutes. Cut tofu into 3/4 inch thick slices. Place slices in a shallow dish. In a small bowl, beat together vinegar, mustard and herbs. Pour mixture over the tofu. Marinate tofu 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove tofu from the marinade and place on the baking sheet. Bake tofu until firm and lightly browned. This should take about 1 hour.
KITCHEN SUPPLIES: Baking Sheet and Baking Parchment Paper
Irene Pastore Fitness.com 