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!”
That looks delicious. And the book looks amazing. A perfect antidote to Pacific Northwest winter comfort food binges. Thanks!
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Great giveaway!
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Its that time of year when I’m in need of some vegetable inspiration
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I wasn’t sure if I was interested in this book until you started to talk about the recipes. Interesting combinations.
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Yum, i’m always looking for great ways to make vegetable-based main courses. Looks awesome!
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It’s so hard to know with cookbooks, but a recommendation from you lends a seal of approval! I have a two year old and completely get the post-little-in-bed-oh-my-heavenly-peace-and-quiet moment of deflation. Would love to spice up a snowy Minnesota February with some new vegetarian dishes. Thanks for such a practical and lovely giveaway!
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I LOVE za’atar…ever since a Syrian friend introduced it to me, I’ve been hooked. Love this recipe-can’t wait to try!
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I’m going to try that this weekend! Thank you! We have been trying a lot of meat- and cheese- less dishes in the last few months and all of these sound like a new round of discoveries. It is so easy to get into a rut and the only way I have found to get out of one is to read new cookbooks!
It is so good that you are taking care of yourself….it is hard, but if you aren’t running at full speed, everything will be difficult, no matter what it is.
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I’ve been vegetarian for 3 years and love trying new recipes. Having worked my way through Heidi Swanson’s Super Natural Every Day, I’m in the market for a new cookbook!
I love lentil salads– they’re my favorite food to bring on plane trips. This celery root version looks delicious!
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Martha must have written at least one line in a song from the musical, Oklahoma. It says “anything you can do I can do better.” 🙂 it’s hard to beat Martha on snything and Id love to have her new book! Thanks, Sheryl
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That cover recipe looks delicious! Looking forward to more “Cooking for Hugo” posts…
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Yes, yes, yes! There is nothing better than roasting up some veggies and tossing them with a legume, but these combos I hadn’t thought of. Would love the book.
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oh yes please. i’m in. every single thing you mentioned sounds so good. thanks for the giveaway offer. talk about comfort food…..without the guilt. so glad it helped you rise above the sleep deprivation. feel better.
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Yum! I am trying to eat less meat — it would be great to have some great suggestions.
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Hi Luisa! I loved your book. Thank you for sharing your story. 🙂
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Quick, meatless, delicious? As an “almost vegetarian” (just a taste preference) and mother of a 9 mo, I’m in! And this recipe looks absolutely delicious, gotta try it!
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I love your blog and I have had great results with all Martha Stewart recipes. I am trying to start a few meals meat-free as we need less and more veggies, so I may look at getting this book to add to my collection.
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My husband & I have implemented a Meatless Mondays policy as a way to encourage us to eat more veggies. The hubby is getting tired of beans, and this eggplant chickpea soup sounds delish!
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I need eggplant inspiration! That soup sounds perfect.
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I’m not a vegetarian, but I don’t eat meat all the time – this looks lovely.
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Looks great. Would love to win!
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You just sound as my sister. Her newborn gets often “better” food than she gets 🙂
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I’ve been making something similar lately but with jerusalem artichokes instead of celery root. I also tossed in some hazelnuts and baby spinach. It is so satisfying.
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Those recipes sound like everything I want to eat, but can never think of myself! Thanks for the giveaway!
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This sounds great.
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The lentil dish and the cookbook look very tasty! Can’t wait to try the recipe you shared. I’m wondering if you’ve every come across Vij’s At Home? It’s written by Vikram Vij and his wife; although there are many meat dishes, the vegetable dishes would make you swoon! Plus it’s one of the most flavourful and easy cookbooks with Indian flavours – which I recall you saying you’ve been missing!
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I get into that kind of quick-fix cooking rut from time to time too. Sometimes cooking takes a back seat to life, and it can be daunting to get organized and start making better choices, which can be as fast to put together anyway.
This book sounds great! I love the everyday food books as well, they are very straightforward and filled with great recipes and tons of pics.
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Would love to win this book! Thanks for the lentil salad.
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As a full-time student I never have time to make real food (although I’m sure it’s not nearly as difficult as with a baby) and can absolutely appreciate the ease of non-meat dishes that come together quickly!! Can’t wait to try the lentil salad!
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Funny the first day I read your blog you are sponsoring a giveaway! Lucky me for the chance! I love lentils. Another great blog for healthy eating is Tartlette – if you don’t read it already!
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Would love to win a copy!
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I love your blog, and any chance to win a cookbook! Hoping that residents of Canada are able to participate in this giveaway.
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Currently looking for a good vegetarian cookbook and this seems perfect!
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This recipe looks delicious – I would love to explore the book more!
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This sounds like a great book! It’s so nice to have quick and easy go-to vegetarian meals.
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Can’t wait to try that idea with the celery roots in my drawer! The cookbook looks inspiring and fun. I’ve been a vegetarian for quite a while, going on about 17 years, and I’ve been feeling pretty uninspired by my current collection. Thanks for giving us a peek into what’s inspiring you now. Stay warm- the winter in Berlin sounds much harsher than the one here in Minnesota but nonetheless it’s cold and dreary and I cannot wait for daffodils to poke up their heads.
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mmmm…we don’t eat very much meat ever, but i somehow always feel like i can’t get ENOUGH VEGGIES during the winter.
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What a way to shake off the winter doldrums! I’m excited to check out this book.
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I just finished My Berlin Kitchen and love, love, loved it. Beautifully done. It was so hard to put down, but then I found your blog. And it’s like the book but longer! Thank you for inspiring me in the kitchen. Can’t wait to cook more of your recipes!
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One of these days I’m going to try going vegan for a week or a month. I’m apprehensive about the undertaking, but perhaps this book might ease the process.
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Oooo, I’ve been having the same exact problem! I started my new menu planning with a Moroccan roasted carrot and quinoa recipe from… pinterest… last night! So far, so delish!
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I would love to try this cookbook.
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I recently came up with a great quick salad system. I grate raw golden beets, raw red beets, carrots, and cut some celery and put them in little piles in a big bowl and refrigerate them, covered. I make a quanity of vinaigrette (I used lemon juice, mustard, honey, and olive oil). When I’m hungry, I put some greens in a bowl, take healthy pinches of each veggie and toss it with greens and add a little dressing. For my lunch at work I take a wide-mouthed pint jar, put some dressing in the bottom, top it with the grated veggies and put some greens on top. At lunch time I dump it into a bowl and it is ready to eat!
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Oh man I am right there with you on being pooped out once the baby goes to bed. I’ve decided to sign up for our local CSA box so the fridge is always stocked and I have fewer excuses to laze out. I’d love this cook book to help!
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I can always use inspiration from Martha – and the food I crave most is meatless. Sounds like a great book!
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I’m looking for meatless inspiration! This book would be super helpful.
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Thanks for a chance to win Meatless.
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Herbivoracious is also great, and less fussy than Plenty.
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Oooooh, yum! This sounds amazing! Pick me, pick me! 🙂
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That lentil recipe sounds amazing! I’m always looking for new meatless recipes.
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