Mmmm beans and lentils

Following the Christmas meat fest i've had a bit of a vegetarian revelation. I've always bean one of those lentil lover types and have never been a massive meat eater; a hunk of steak or a pork chop has just never really done it for me so I am comfortable in the bean and lentil field. However I know this is not a comfort shared by all and I am forever trying to persuade people to experiment with pulses. They are so cheap and versatile. My last 2 meals have proved this..

Dinner last night was homemade veggie burgers and lunch today was spicy beany soup. Both were lovely and I am going to pass on the pulse baton with some recipes:

Veggie burgers (for a shed load)...about 12

• 200g green lentils
• 3 carrots
• 1 onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 3 slices of bread
• 2 eggs
• bit of flour
• any spice you like - I used: cumin, coriander and a bit of garam masala, plus fresh parsley and coriander.

Cook the lentils for about 15 mins (until soft), blitz the carrots, onion, garlic, bread and herbs and spices. When the lentils are cooked combine the 2 mixtures and add the eggs. Make mix into patties and dip both side in flour, you may find the cheeky rascals fall apart a bit but just pack them tightly together and they'll be fine. I found this bit mildly stressful... Pop under the grill for about 5 mins on each side.

Serve in buns with homemade sauces and salad (I made salsa and guacamole and it went down a dream!)

Spicy beany soup

• 1 onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 2 celery sticks
• 2 carrots
• tin of chopped tomatoes 
• vegetable stock
• 1 cup of mixed pulses or soup mix (found in whole foody type shops.)
• Cayenne pepper and cumin, plus fresh parsley and coriander 

Fry up finely chopped onions, garlic, celery and carrots in some olive oil until nice and soft, add your spices and fry for another minute. Add your pulse mix and chopped tomatoes - fry a little longer. Cover mixture with vegetable stock and pop a lid on. Stirring every so often and adding any extra stock (depending how thick you like your soup), cook until pulses are soft. Serve with herb garnish and nice bread.

So there you go 2 yummy and easy and healthy lentil/bean recipes, are you converted? Or do you just fancy a beef burger...

In other news what ya'll doing for new years eve?! Such pressure to have the BEST NIGHT OF YOUR LIFE but such likely-hood that you probably wont. I still don't really have a plan as such, by this I mean I don't have a plan in any way shape or form... but what can you do. I would rather go to bed at 10 o'clock with the Sex and the City box-set than spend the night in some jammed club or pub spending obscene amounts of money. But kinda hoping I get invited to a cool party (theres still time...)

New Year's resolutions and stuff like that.

Its the 29th of December and its drizzling and windy outside. I always feel a bit blue at this time of year. After the fun of Christmas - when you feel like all you've got is at least 3 months of bleak winter to come with no light in sight. (I'm being dramatic but you get the idea.) But I'm trying not to wallow in self-pity and starting to think about the new year in that sort of everythingispossible way.

I am actually an optimistic person. My number one new years resolution is to become an internet sensation... I hear you laugh but it's always best to aim high and hang onto the dream.

My second one is to heal my god dam knee injury and run another half marathon. The last few months have been so frustrating and I've felt like my body is a bit against me.

I think thats enough to be getting on with but I am excited to be starting a new year and like most people i'm setting out with all those good intentions to just be generally better in 2012 in every way.