16 Comments
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Dawn's avatar

A little meat goes a long way. Plant-based protein is not only a wise heart-healthy choice, but a way to stretch the dollar. This is not a new revelation, it was also an observation in the bible. Thanks for the new lentil recipe. I always have dried lentils and chickpeas in the house.

Emily Beyda's avatar

We're the same way at our house dawn--legumes are healthy for body and soul! Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy the recipe

Dawn's avatar

For my fellow pulses foodies. Did you know that most of the pulses are grown in the Palouse region. Every year they have the National Lentil Festival in Pullman, WA. (Next one 8-26-26. I have never been). Years ago, I purchased the agricultural organization's Pea & Lentil Cookbook (compilation of the festival's best recipes). I think there were subsequent cookbooks under name of Beans, Peas & Lentils Cookbook. Many available used online. My last tel # for association is 208-882-3023. Bon Appetit!

Emily Beyda's avatar

I had no idea, how cool! I'll have to check it out

Wendy B.'s avatar

American food history is fascinating. Twinkies were invented in 1930, Wonder bread in 1921, and in the past, chicken was an expensive luxury and cost far more than beef or pork because chickens were raised for eggs. Americans ate a lot more meat in the past than they do today, mostly red meat (beef, pork, mutton/lamb, venison), around 200 pounds per year per person in 1800 versus 100 pounds per person per year in 2019. Of course, the global human population was only 1 billion in 1800 versus 7.7 billion people in 2019. Only so many cows the environment can support. And that is why eating cows has become political lately.

Emily Beyda's avatar

It's so fascinating reading old fiction and the most basic meal is always a beefsteak! Definitely not the case today, although I wonder what the modern equivalent would be...

Jean Opsomer's avatar

You can put the greens in the pie. Chop them and add with the garlic.

Emily Beyda's avatar

Absolutely! You can also add additional root vegetables to the potatoes, like sweet potatoes, rutabaga, or turnips, for even more veggie goodness

Irena's avatar

It's very, very refreshing to see a recipe of 3 steps and manageable number of ingredients. I usually close the page on most recipes after scrolling down through ingredients list.

Emily Beyda's avatar

I feel the same way Irena--glad you liked this simplified approach!

JanetG's avatar

Meat has been in entrenched in our society since like forever. I think similar to other countries, the ability to consume meat (the environmental and ethical concerns be dammed) reflects wealth. Americans are obsessed with wealth and the wealthy. A few years ago a friend that I think considers himself to be politically and ethically correct basically told me when I challenged him on the consumption of lamb (baby sheep for Christ’s sake!) that it’s just too good to pass up. Really?

Emily Beyda's avatar

Totally, the class aspect of meat consumption is fascinating to think about

Teresa Baustian's avatar

Eating something in order to “trigger the libs” is the most pathetic, weak thing I can imagine.

Emily Beyda's avatar

Right there with you Teresa

Gerald Kelly's avatar

"After the war, new technologies were applied to the creation of convenience foods, and patriotic eating became associated with microwaved dinners at home, a slab of meat once more on every plate."

Microwaved dinners probably weren't that common until the 1970s, though. The first home microwave oven wasn't available until 1955 and that was too expensive for most people, the equivalent of $16,000 today. It wasn't until the 1970s that home microwave ovens became affordable.

"By 1986, roughly 25% of households in the U.S. owned a microwave oven, up from only about 1% in 1971;[21] the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that over 90% of American households owned a microwave oven in 1997." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwave_oven)

Emily Beyda's avatar

Gerald thank you! This is so fascinating--the evolution of American foodways is complex and meandering