Lentil Stew

Our joke around here is that my husband's favorite vegetarian dishes always include bacon. Case in point: Lentil Skillet with Onions and Bacon from Cooking Light. The bacon makes this dish and, while it is not vegetarian, it is still plant-centered rather than meat-centered because the bacon really only serves as a garnish. You could probably even make it without, but I never have. However, I don't use the 6 slices of bacon called for, usually just 3 strips of thick-sliced applewood-smoked bacon. I also add a little smoked paprika for a spicy note. This isn't one of those "I-don't-have-anything-else-to-make, -so-I'll-settle-for-lentils" type of dinners. I really look forward to eating this, it has a surprising amount of flavor. Sure it looks kind of blah and brown on the plate but the taste makes up for it. (I think the key is 6 cloves of garlic to one cup of lentils!) When served with sauteed greens and a piece of garlic bread, you've got yourself one tasty plate of food.