Comments on Sweet Amandine: Before I knew it

I always appreciate hearing your take on things, N...

2010-03-19T11:32:28.820-04:00

I always appreciate hearing your take on things, Nishta. You two are wonderful. Wishing you and Jill a lovely weekend!

Thank you, Clarice, for reporting back. It makes me so happy to hear that you enjoyed this soup. And it means a lot to me - probably more than you know - to hear that you're enjoying this space. Happy weekend to you!

I made the soup this week. It was so simple and s...

2010-03-19T11:15:50.606-04:00

I made the soup this week. It was so simple and satisfying! I have been enjoying your blog since last Summer, thank you.

you are so dead-on, as usual. I used to do the sa...

2010-03-18T21:09:49.352-04:00

you are so dead-on, as usual. I used to do the same thing when Jill & I were doing long-distance...keep a list of things to tell her. it's amazing how the intimacy can grow with restrictions.

we still use the metaphor that we were just in different rooms of the same house. she still travels a great deal and so we'll say "you're just down the hall."

Rosiecat! I think I need to hire you as my offici...

2010-03-18T14:39:47.095-04:00

Rosiecat! I think I need to hire you as my official soup PR person. I'm so glad that you liked it. Better than that "other" recipe? Those are some pretty serious words you're throwing around.

Sweet Jess, this soup was fabulous! I made it thi...

2010-03-18T14:08:53.836-04:00

Sweet Jess, this soup was fabulous! I made it this week and so far it has been one dinner, two lunches, and oh so tasty at all three meals. The parsley is an inspired addition--it adds such a lovely herbal note on top of all those earthy flavors. I think I like your recipe better than that *other* recipe I mentioned earlier...many thanks for another delicious recipe! xo

Aw, Jenious, you're very sweet.

2010-03-17T17:24:27.784-04:00

Aw, Jenious, you're very sweet.

Your tale of love has me feeling all warm and schm...

2010-03-17T16:43:56.015-04:00

Your tale of love has me feeling all warm and schmoopy inside, which I imagine is how this soup makes one feel as well.

Hello, Sprout. Yeah, college is pretty great. Bu...

2010-03-17T14:54:23.456-04:00

Hello, Sprout. Yeah, college is pretty great. But so is the "real world." (Of course, some might argue that, as a long-time graduate student, I've yet to enter it.)

minor catastrophes - I'm no expert, but I can tell you about the differences between lentil varieties that I've observed in my own kitchen. I find that the bigger (and, as you note, less expensive) brown lentils turn to mush a lot more easily than the little French guys. And even when the larger ones do retain their shape, they don't push back against the teeth as delightfully as French green lentils. French green lentils almost pop in your mouth, I find. I also feel that bigger lentils can taste a little mealy, even when they're prepared to perfection. French green lentils, never. David Lebovitz wrote about lentilles du Puy on his blog a while back. In the post, he differentiates between French green lentils in general and true lentilles du Puy from Auvergne. I've never tried the "real thing" (I buy French green lentils grown locally), so I guess there's yet another level of lentil ecstasy that I have yet to experience! David writes that it's the starch content that accounts for the texture variation among lentils. In short, give those Montana French green lentils a try! They may be more expensive than the brown ones, but they're worth it, and they're still cheaper, I'd imagine, than most proteins, right?

Amuse-Bouche - Tomato LENTIL soup, yes! And was that a little fist pump I caught there in the white space between the letters? You know how to make a girl smile.

Right out of thin air. I think I would need two ve...

2010-03-16T14:48:50.759-04:00

Right out of thin air. I think I would need two very deep bowls of your tomato LENTIL soup. It looks amazing. Truly.

Aww, such a sweet story. Thanks for sharing it. ...

2010-03-15T10:11:33.417-04:00

Aww, such a sweet story. Thanks for sharing it.

Now, I've always made lentil soup using the generic, cheap lentils. But I've seen the more expensive cousin, "French" lentils on the shelves as well and always wondered at the difference between the two. (The French variety is even grown locally here in Montana!) Any coaching on this one, Jess?

Great soup, wow! I agree, one of the best things a...

2010-03-15T09:22:36.511-04:00

Great soup, wow! I agree, one of the best things about being a sophomore in college is being able to take classes like Basic Drawing :)

Thanks, Andrea. I love the way you put it: "...

2010-03-14T00:33:57.561-05:00

Thanks, Andrea. I love the way you put it: "wanting most to tell each other your stories." When Eli comes home from work, instead of saying "so, tell me about your day," he always says, "say stories."

And Linda, I laughed out loud when I read your note. Those are some big plans you have for us! It has been raining all weekend here, too. I hope that the soup hit the spot.

jess, this is novel material...with rights bought ...

2010-03-13T18:00:22.875-05:00

jess,
this is novel material...with rights bought by "big" studio or "celeb" & made into a movie...
it's raining here in nyc & i am deciding what soup to make...but...not any more.
thanks for this oh so lovely post!

Very sweet story about the art supplies and wantin...

2010-03-13T16:25:16.984-05:00

Very sweet story about the art supplies and wanting most to tell each other your stories. I'm so glad to have read this.

Wow, what incredibly sweet notes from all o...

2010-03-12T18:45:22.895-05:00

Wow, what incredibly sweet notes from all of you. I have to tell you: I don’t know why, but I never really saw that subway ride down to Pearl as a part of mine and Eli’s “love story.” That day was so long before either one of us thought of the other in that way. I think of our “chapter one” as much later in the game, but that’s a story for another time. If you’re interested in hearing it, that is. But as I read your comments, I realized that there was a seed of some kind in those earliest days of our friendship. I was confused at first when some of you called this post a “love story,” but you know what? You’re right. It is. Thank you for helping me to see that.

Adrienne – Yes, some of my favorite soups come about this way. I’m always so happy when I remember to write down what I’ve done so that I can replicate it.

Hi, Rebecca, and gosh, I don’t know what to say! I’m so glad that you introduced yourself, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all of those very nice things that you said about my writing. Writing for this space is such a pleasure, and it means the world to me to hear that you enjoy what you read here. Thank you.

Shira – Yes, I graduated in ’02. I think that one of my favorite things about NYC is how many “cities” it’s possible to find among the boroughs. So many little worlds on a single island. And The Strand – yes! Love it.

Thank you, Char.

Andrea, you are so, so kind, friend. Thank you, as always, for being here.

Chihiro – Welcome! It’s a pleasure to meet you. I took some classes down at NYU over a couple of summers early on in graduate school, and I absolutely loved it down there. I’m not sure I could ever choose between Morningside Heights and the Village. They both have a very special place in my heart.

Stephanie! Hello, hello. Leave it to you to find fancy vinegar at TJ Maxx. Hi five you! And hugs, too.

Thank you, Molly. And don’t worry about me. That cold didn’t hang around for very long at all. I think it knew that it was not welcome.

Oh, Megan. Hi. I don’t even know what to say to you, lady. Wish you were here so that I could drop some soup at your door. xo.

Hi, Sara! It does sound meant to be. I’m not sure why your lentils were slow in softening. Yellow lentils are somewhat larger than French green lentils, but I actually find that they turn to mush much more quickly. I’m very happy to hear that it all worked out in the end. Enjoy!

Jacqui – What a sweet thing to say! Thanks for the vote of confidence, friend.

Joie de vivre – Thank you.

Rosiecat – Well, go universe, then! I’ll have to look up that Barefoot Contessa recipe. Happy weekend to you, too!

Hello, Emma, and welcome. You’re so kind to say such nice things when you’ve only just arrived. I wonder if the recipe you mention is the same as Rosiecat’s. It sounds wonderful. And I love the idea of pairing these lentils with polenta. I’m going to make a note of that for next time. Thank you!

Hi, Rogue Unicorn, and thank you. I think that these comments are the sweetest thing that I have read in a while! I adore that you have an entire genre named for recipes like this one: “holy-crap-we-have-nothing-in-the-house recipes.” Wonderful. I’m going to have to steal that.

El – I was thinking the same thing about it being a nice in-between soup. Thanks for your note, El.

Aww, Jenn, thank you. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you! In my mind, there’s something about watercolor that’s already terribly romantic. If you find yourself lucky in love, you’d better report back!

Lindsey – It is fun buying all of that stuff for school. I studied music in college, and I loved that thick notebooks of staff paper were my “supplies.”

Koshercamembert – I like the idea of finishing a lentil soup with a squeeze of lemon. I’d love a bowl of your red lentil soup now that I’ve finished the last of mine.

I love lentil soup and de Puys are the way to go s...

2010-03-12T14:12:34.524-05:00

I love lentil soup and de Puys are the way to go so they don't turn to mush (unless of course, you want the red kind for a smooth soup that I made just this week, with similar ingredients and a splash of lemon to keep it really fresh. Actually, I think I'll have the last bowlful now!

I love lentils, and I love your story. I spent ma...

2010-03-12T14:10:28.961-05:00

I love lentils, and I love your story. I spent many an hour venturing out to Pearl in Central Square in Cambridge when I was in college (drawing is the bane of my existence, and I had to take a full year of it), and my now husband used to venture out with me. Although he was an engineering student and I was an art student, so I think he just thought it was amusing that I was buying such random supplies for school.

that's like, my dream romance, and probably th...

2010-03-12T10:25:06.552-05:00

that's like, my dream romance, and probably the cutest story ever. i'm starting watercolor painting on tuesday. i want some of that good luck boy karma you got with your art class.. =)

and the soup looks magical, too.

I love Pearl art supply (but in Cambridge). I love...

2010-03-12T10:00:17.854-05:00

I love Pearl art supply (but in Cambridge). I love lentils and this looks like the perfect soup for the winter to spring transition.

Jess, This post is possibly the sweetest thing I h...

2010-03-12T04:51:30.316-05:00

Jess,
This post is possibly the sweetest thing I have read in a while. I have to admit that teared up a bit when I read it.
I make a very similar lentil soup,but with ginger and the addition of the vinegar at the end. It's one of my go-to, holy-crap-we-have-nothing-in-the-house recipes and I love it.

Hi, I just recently found your blog, and I think i...

2010-03-12T01:36:01.025-05:00

Hi, I just recently found your blog, and I think it's great! Your writing is entertaining, captivating and easy to read. I had to comment on this post because I made almost the exact same thing for dinner tonight. It was following a recipe by Ina Garten, and it was more of a stew than a soup, but had almost the exact same ingredients except spices were thyme, curry powder and savory... I love french lentils- they have so much character and sophistication... I made some polenta with it, which turned out to be a great accompaniment. It turned out great and blog worthy! Keep up the great posts! I'll be checking back.

Jess, you must have tapped into some invisible sou...

2010-03-11T22:59:03.839-05:00

Jess, you must have tapped into some invisible soup vibes in your kitchen because your recipe looks so similar to one from Barefoot Contessa. Now, I don't know how these soup vibes work, but I'm ready and willing to try your recipe. And, as though the universe KNEW that I'd need to make a recipe from Sweet Amandine very soon, it instructed me to buy green lentils last week and then told me not cook them as planned. It was fate.

Wishing you a happy weekend and all the lentil soup your heart desires...xo

What a nice story, so sweet.

2010-03-11T22:39:15.353-05:00

What a nice story, so sweet.

YOU need to write a book, my friend. with photos. ...

2010-03-11T22:25:13.169-05:00

YOU need to write a book, my friend. with photos. and recipes. and send it my way posthaste.

all week i wanted to make lentil soup, so it was b...

2010-03-11T21:41:44.090-05:00

all week i wanted to make lentil soup, so it was bashert that you posted this recipe! i just made it, but with yellow lentils, and it is delicious. the lentils took forever to get soft, not sure why, but i can't wait to enjoy it for lunch tomorrow!

hugs,
sara marx