Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Some smoke, a sunset, and some comfort food

 This is the first full week of school, and it's not pretty, so dinner, by necessity is quick comfort foods.


Today, I have one of my go-to favorites - lentils with rice and cheese. It's so easy.  I don't have to tell anyone how to cook rice, but I will say that Jasmine is my go-to rice because I love the flavor.

I have sprouted lentils that cook in about 4 minutes.

Put the rice on the plate, add the lentils, and then cover it with cheddar cheese. A couple of minutes int he microwave and dinner is ready.



It doesn't look all that appetizing in the photo, but it's so good and filling.


Now, for a bizarre photo. Last night the weatherman was warning that the smoke from the west coast fires would reach our area today and might make things hazy.

For most of the day it was fine - cool and breezy. But when I looked out my back window a little before sunset, the sun had an apocalyptic look to it. 

I realize this is nothing compared to the terrifying photos coming out of the west coast, but if you consider I'm 3,000 miles away, this is some eerie stuff.




The photos don't quite do it justice - the sun was this glowing red ball surrounded by haze that had a pinkish tinge.


Has the smoke from the fires affected the sky where you live?

10 comments:

  1. You're right, Mary Cate. It is amazing that smoke created on the west coast can travel to and still be visible on the easy coast. Just another oddity of nature.

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    1. Sunrise this morning was just as surreal. According to the forecast, it will be with us a few more days.

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  2. That dish does look delicious and easy! Thanks for the idea!

    We deal with smoke every time there's a fire in the west. In fact, some people call the end of August "smoke season." We also have our own wildfires in the Black Hills, but they aren't as devastating as in the far west for several reasons. We still are very careful during the end of the summer, though!

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    1. So easy and so satisfying!

      How sad that smoke season is a thing. Glad you're all careful.

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  3. Those fires are frightening and the smoke is effecting the air control clear across the country just boggles the mind.

    I'm a huge lentil fan but never thought of dressing it up with cheese before! Seriously...I am the least creative cook ever.

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    1. Cheese works with pretty much everything! And it makes everything better!

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  4. Mary Cate, those photos are stunning considering how far away you are. I can't begin to imagine what the west coast is going through. I'm praying for them and those in the path of Hurricane Sally!

    BTW, do you sprout your own lentils? Or do you buy them that way?

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    1. I buy them sprouted, Missy. I got these from Amazon because...pandemic. They're called Truroots Sprouted Lentils. Best part - because they are sprouted they only take 4 minutes to cook.

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  5. I read in the paper today that Europe's even getting the smoke from the fires in the western U.S. We get a lot of it here in northern Utah. Our valley gets hazy and overcast with smoke some days. It's been bad lately.

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    1. I'm sorry about that, Winnie. I can't imagine how bad it must be being so close.

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