Budget Friendly Comfort Food

Food is the most primitive form of comfort. — Sheilah Graham

It is getting chilly outside, the trees are shedding their brilliant colors and I'm huddled into my kitchen drinking pumpkin spice coffee and cooking a simple yet delightful meal. Actually more than a meal, a comfort meal. A soup that provides a feeling of well-being when eaten...a comfort food...classic lentil soup. Henri Mancini quietly playing in the background, the sun still sitting below the horizon and I'm filled with a sense of peacefulness, how could it get any better? Well, I do know one thing that could make it better...if you could smell the aroma in my kitchen at this point.

Classic Lentil Soup with Caramelized Onions
5 small onions, thinly sliced
1 small shallot, thinly sliced
evoo (extra virgin olive oil)
3 c. lentils
10.5 c. water
12 vegetable bullion cubes*
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

*Vegan Side Note: Not all vegetable bullion is vegan. Check the ingredients! Often times you'll find a dairy product of some sort.

1. Heat oil in a large dutch oven or large stock pot and fry the three of the onions and shallot until lightly browned.

2. Rinse lentils well.

3. Add the lentils, water and bullion cubes. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer for about 20 minutes or until the lentils are soft.

4. While the soup is cooking, slowly fry 2 finely sliced onions in evoo until deep golden brown. This will take a while, but is oh so worth it. Trust me. You do, right?

5. Blend soup with an immersion blender or using a traditional blender. Add salt and pepper to taste.

6. Reheat gently. Once the soup is ready to serve, top each bowl — mug — tureen — or whatever mode of serving you choose with a glistening pile of caramelized onions.

Mouth-watering good. Go ahead, make this soup. Show someone your love through food. Create a place of comfort for someone, it is so rewarding, I promise.

Food is not about impressing people. It's about making them feel comfortable. — Ina Garten

Kitchen gadget side note — Two kitchen supplies I couldn't live without:
1. dutch oven. I have a Martha Stewart version from Macys, similar to this one. I love it!
2. immersion blender. Something like this, nothing fancy.

Food, like a loving touch or a glimpse of divine power, has that ability to comfort. — Norman Kolpas

What is your fall comfort food? Share your yummy ideas with me!