For the first time in my cooking life, I'm finding it hard to cook good food for myself. The accumulation of sleep deprivation over the past 8 months means that now, when Hugo goes to bed and I've finally got a few minutes to myself in the evening, I collapse on the couch and wish someone would just bring me a cold beer and a bag of potato chips for dinner. After a few comatose moments, I'm usually able to drag myself into the kitchen to fix a cheese sandwich and a bowl of yogurt for dinner, but my vegetable consumption has been pathetic lately. It's not like there isn't anything in the house – I buy plenty of vegetables to experiment with for Hugo – it's just that I'm all out of beans at night, when it's time for me. And these dark winter days mean that I need more than just a bowl of steamed broccoli to make me feel good.
But the other day, the nice people at Clarkson Potter sent me a copy of the latest Martha Stewart Living cookbook, Meatless, and suddenly things are looking a lot brighter over here. First, there were roasted cubes of celery root and onion tossed with boiled lentils and dressed with nothing but lemon juice and olive oil. I would never have thought to combine celery root and lentils, but the combination was delicious. I prepped everything while Hugo was hanging out with me in the kitchen; then, when he'd gone down for his nap, all I had to do was toss it together before digging in. It was so full of flavor and so filling. This is my new favorite lunch, I proclaimed to myself. (The original recipe has you add parsley, but I used some za'atar, since I have an industrial quantity of it, and it was amazing.)
Then I got distracted by a soup that has you roast eggplant and chickpeas in one pan together (so easy!), before mashing them together with some broth and garlic and onion, finishing each bowl off with oregano and a dollop of yogurt. There was fried rice made with leftover brown rice (I finally cracked the perfect brown rice code in my rice cooker!) and shiitakes, and crisp little patties made out of mashed white beans that I ate with tomato sauce and basically, what I'm trying to tell you is this book is so full of inspiration and good food that I haven't really come up for air since.
Happily, Potter was kind enough to send a second copy along for a giveaway! So, for a chance to win a copy of Meatless, please leave a comment below and I'll pick a winner at random tomorrow. Good luck!
Update: Martha is the winner and has been emailed. Thank you all for participating – comments are now closed.
Lentils with Caramelized Celery Root
Adapted from Meatless
2 cups water
3/4 cup green or brown lentils
1-2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon olive oil
1 celery root, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1 onion, chopped
Lemon juice to taste
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Za'atar, to taste
1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bring the water and lentils to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer gently, partially covered, until lentils are just tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and transfer to a bowl.
2. Toss the celery root and onion with the 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil and salt to taste and put in a roasting pan. Cook in the oven for 20-30 minutes, until caramelized.
3. Add the celery root and onion to the bowl with the lentils. Stir in the lemon juice, salt and pepper, za'atar and remaining olive oil to taste. Serve.
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472 responses to “Tuesday Giveaway!”
Yes please! I would make the lentils and celery root on Sunday and eat it all week.
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Luisa, go for any of Heidi Swanson’s books, they do miracles too. and best luck with Hugo! :))
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The roast eggplant and chickpea soup sounds great, a must try. Also a good way to get my little ‘uns to eat eggplant, which is not a favorite of theirs right now.
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Since January I’ve been eating vegetarian during the week mostly because I was bored of my standard repertoire of dishes- so far it’s been great! This book looks fantastic as well 🙂 And what could be better than a soup made from chickpeas and eggplant?
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That sounds exactly what i need. Writing a dissertation and preparing for my final exams is not condusive to healthy eating.
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Sounds like this book is full of great ideas- for the lack of pasta yesterday we made riso e fagioli with zucchini and it turned out great
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Oh yes please, another meatless book, there schould be more and the examples just sound too good.
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My daughter in Canada – I will be visiting her in a couple of months, hooray! – is not only vegetarian, but saddled at the moment with a diet that limits all her favourite foods, like cheese and pasta. She would be thrilled with this!
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This book sounds great would love a copy
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This book looks fantastic! As a vegetarian and a weekly vegetable box recipient, this would provide some welcome inspiration when I’m trying to figure out how to make yet another dinner from, say, a head of napa cabbage, a few sticks of salsify and my endless supply of carrots.
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Sounds delicious!!! Love lentils in every combination!! And love Martha too!! Thanks for your lovely blog!!
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This sounds great. I usually eat a lot of fish and some chicken etc but always wanting to learn more about ‘meatless dishes’.
Thank you.
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been living alone again after years of flatsharing, i’m finding it hard to cook anything other than fresh pasta and cream.. so the book would be most welcome – oh, and obviously i’m a vegetarian as well.
thanks!
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I am a vegetarian myself and love to read your blog as often I find your recipes are either vegetarian or I can tweak them a little for my needs. I would love a copy! Thank you
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Thanks for introducing the book – as a vegetarian I am always looking for new recipes without meat, the combination celery & lentils sounds delicious!
And I know what you mean by dark winter days – Vienna is by no means better than Berlin…
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Oh la la, surely that’s a book i’d like to own!
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I have just made a commitment to vegetarianism to teach at the most lovely independent school but have only managed cheese sandwiches for my lunches so far…
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The celery root with lentils salad looks amazing. I have my lunch figured out for today! Thanks!
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that book looks so promising! thank you luisa!
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Whether I win or not, I’ll try that lentil salad.
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Oh that all sounds so delicious, especially the lentils and celery root!
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Oh, I will be so happy if I win this book. I’m always lack of ideas when trying to do dishes without meat, fish, etc…
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Sounds like a fantastic book! After deciding to become vegetarian in the last year or so, many of my recipe books now sit un-used on the shelf … A good quality ‘meatless’ one sounds simply wonderful. Thanks for the recommendation!
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This book looks great! And I feel you on needing lots of veggies in the winter and I have been desperately needing some new recipes and inspiration lately!
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I have been searching for the perfect vegetarian cookbook forever. I’ve been a vegetarian for 12 years, and I’ve gone through my fair share, but I’ve recently cooked the life out of my favourite one and I’m looking for a new favourite. This sounds so appetising!
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Oh, I could use this. Two little boys and a veg-averse husband => I need inspiration!
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Also… I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but I have been trying to sign up to your blog’s feed for ages. I check back every now and then and it’s still not working, just comes up with a scramble of HTML. Please get it fixed so I can subscribe!
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Book sounds like an inspiration! The recipes also sound like things Hugo could eat, so why not make one batch where both you and Hugo could eat from? You got two birds in with one stone: you also have some dinner/lunch when you are too tired and Hugo is used to your food! (That is how I survived the first year with my little one and now with fifteen months she is eating everything we eat). X Val
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I’m in the same boat with the baby and the exhaustion. Most meals these days revolve around bred and butter. I’d love some veggie inspiration!
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This book sounds great! I’d love to start cooking with less meat and more vegetables!
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I haven’t been eating well lately, and I’m starting to get strong vegetable cravings. A cookbook might help motivate me even more.
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Thanks for the contest!
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That book is just what we need right now – in a food rut! xoxo
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Ooooh! The book sounds amazing. Pick me 🙂
I am vegetarian and love Martha Stewart recipes…..that soup sounds delish.
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My dear husband is a “meatless” guy, and I would love to cook him from this book:)
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I’d love to try my luck too. But please please share with us the brown rice recipe in the rice cooker because I didn’t find the trick yet!
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Oh that sounds so comfortable… I could use a new meatless cookbook, this one looks so rich with filling, warm, delicious recipes!
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we’re eating mostly meatless during the week, but lately I’ve been feeling pretty uninspired. this book looks perfect to get excited about dinner again!
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Oh me, oh my, that book looks good..! I’d love me some of that veggie action.
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ooh, i have been waiting for this book!! thank you!
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That book looks fabulous. So much love for good vegetarian cooking — glad it’s perking up your lunch routine!
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Mmmmmh. Sounds delicious… Louisa, where did you buy the za’atar, in Berlin? I would love to try it but haven’t found a store or possibly arabian “Späti” selling it yet…
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I often find, that the most simplest recipes are also those, that fill me up in the best possible way. As you write, sometimes all it takes is a bit of celery root and lentils. All those things sound like taste-wonderland to me
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Ive been trying to eat more meatless meals and Martha’s are always great!
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I too would love to have this kind of new inspiration for meatless meals.
By the way, I’ve just recently found your blog and I find it lovely! I feel for you with the after-kids-put-to-bed exhaustion.
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I was a vegetarian for many years and even though I now eat meat I often revert to meatless meals, especially when I’m feeling run down. The white bean patties sound fabulous, and I’d never have thought to combine celery root and lentils but will definitely give it a go. Thank you Luisa!
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The celery root and lentil dish sounds lovely!
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Mmmmh. Sounds like a great inspiration for tired weeknights. Thanks for the post!
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Those dishes sound great! I eat meatless meals 95% of the time so I would love this! I could use some new inspiration.
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I am a vegetarian in a family where husband and one twin daughter are avid meat eaters and the other twin daughter and I look at them in disdain (just kidding). My daughter and I would love a copy of this book!
Love your blog – so glad you keep posting even though life is hectic for you with an infant at home!
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