Trader Joe's what would I do without you- #2

Lentil Salad

While it is not hard to make lentils it is even easier to buy a box at trader joes!

1 Box of prepared and refrigerated lentils

1/2 small red onion diced

1/2 a european cucumber seeded and diced or a couple of the small persian cukes

1 red pepper

1 carrot diced small

2 T chopped fresh parsley

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 T garlic infused olive oil or regular olive oil and use some garlic powder in seasoning

2 T red wine vineagar

crumbled feta cheese (optional)

Toss together taste and adjust seasoning and dressing

This is great to have in a container. Add some salmon or chicken and you have a meal.

Trader Joe's what would I do without you!!!

Low Sodium Tomato Soup pumped up!!!

This soup can be a starter or an entire meal!

1 box of Trader Joe's Low Sodium Tomato Soup

Good Curry Powder

Options:

Steamed or Sauteed Spinach

Cubes of Grilled Chicken

Chunks of Tofu

Roasted Cauliflower-Especially good seasoned with the Moroccan blend from another post

Sauteed Mushrooms

So here is the deal. Dr. Oz kept touting the benefits of turmeric and how the incidence of dementia and Alzheimers is very low in India and I thought, "we are going to start embracing the curry!"

While I like the Trader Joe's tomato soup I did think it lacked a little something. Well low and behold start with a couple of teaspoons of curry powder and taste add more to your liking and heat slowly. At this point it is good just as a starter, but now start adding some ingredients and you have a hearty, satisfying bowl of soup.

My favorite is steaming or sauteing some spinach with red pepper flakes and garlic in a little olive oil or going the extra distance and making some kale. Pour the soup over a serving of the spinach and add some cheese if you like. Yummmm!!!

The reality is a little seasoning and some additions make a wonderful semi-homemade meal in minutes!!!

Enjoy!!!