I never post anything but recipes!

Is that really so terrible? I don't think so.

Here's a soup I threw together for dinner. It tastes pretty delicious and can be made with stuff you might have sitting around (and not only if you have a spice addiction collection rivaling mine) plus something that's in season and wonderful.

You will need, roughly:

• 1 medium onion, chopped
  
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
  
• 1 small kabocha squash, diced (~1/2 in cubes) -- this is the awesome seasonal ingredient!
  
• pinch nutmeg
  
• 1 tsp each ground coriander and cumin
  
• 1/2 tsp ground pepper (I have some neat ground serrano pepper, but you could use good paprika, cayenne, etc.)
  
• 2 bay leaves
  
• 3/4 c. red lentils
  
• 4 c. broth (or cheater concentrate + water)
  
• salt & pepper to taste

Saute the onions and garlic in a little olive oil in a good-size soup pot. Add the squash and cook a little more. Dump in the spices and stir around. Add the lentils and stir, then add liquid. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, partially cover, and let simmer for 30+ minutes or until the lentils are cooked and squash is tender. Season to taste and eat.

The other thing I made was much easier: quinoa tabbouleh.

All you need is:

• Some cooked quinoa
  
• A diced red onion
  
• Some chopped up parsley
  
• Diced cucumber
  
• Toooomaaaaatooooooo (I love tomato season, and heirlooms are leaving soon)
  
• Dressing of lemon juice and olive oil
  
• Salt and pepper to taste

I am not even going to explain that. It's a goddamn salad. It tastes good. It's good for you. Eat it.