Sometimes, especially at the start of a busy week I just want to keep it simple. And so I cook a pot of brown rice, ok, ok, Bill cooks a pot of brown rice. You can find his favourite method here.  I tackle a pot of green lentils( place 1 cup lentils in two cups hot water and simmer till tender, about 20 minutes) making terrible puns all the while about ‘A Legume With a View’.  I know, I know!  It’s awful but I really can’t help it, my love for puns is a terrible sickness. But don’t pity me, pity Bill.

Anyway, the rice and lentils sit in the fridge suggesting all sorts of uses for themselves. My favourite thing to do though is to just eat them cold for a simple lunch of rice and lentils.  The ratio I like is one part rice to one part lentil. You can toss in any old thing you like after that: greens, sun dried tomatoes and leftover yam chunks would be nice, blue cheese, a few artichoke hearts( but be prepared for ‘choke jokes’. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.) Anything goes really and in moments you have a healthy, satisfying lunch. This pot of rice and lentils system is great if you’re on a cleanse or if you’re trying to reduce spending for a week to save for a special goal. Brown rice is nearly medicinal in all it’s health benefits and lentils offer equally wonderful perks: they support heart health, help lower bad cholesterol, they stabilize blood sugar, offer high quantities of B vitamins and important minerals like iron and magnesium and may even help your body burn fat for hours after you consume them. Together, rice and lentils offer all the essential amino acids to create a complete protein. So this fine Monday, if you want to look forward to a Friday in which you’re healthier AND richer, fix yourself some rice and lentils. Talk about a legume with a view.

A Simple Lunch of Rice and Lentils
Serves 2 moderately hungry people, add a side salad if you’re both starving. As I mentioned this dish offers endless variations based on what you have in your fridge and your pantry. The list below is merely a suggestion.

1.5 cups cooked green lentils
1.5 cups cooked brown rice
1/4 cup sunflower seeds, soaked and rinsed
1/4 cup hemp seeds
1/4 cup curly parsley, chopped
a few spinach leaves, chopped
good squeeze of lemon
good drizzle of your best olive oil  If you happen to come across Bragg’s Olive Oil, buy some. It’s bright green and unctuous with nutrition you can taste. DELICIOUS.
fresh ground pepper
hot sauce( I like Valentina’s) and Bragg’s Liquid Aminos, for serving I chose not to salt ahead of time because four drops of Bragg’s and two drops of Valentina’s did the trick

Directions:
In a medium bowl combine rice, lentils and any other ingredients you choose. Dress with oil and lemon, mix once more. Give it a good shot of ground pepper and serve with Bragg’s Liquid Aminos or wheat-free soy sauce and your favourite hot sauce. Very nice with half a glass of a light bodied red like a Pinot Noir.