The Best Thing About Fall

Actually, there are many things to love about Fall...the glorious colour parade of leaves....squashes of every type and size...all those root vegetables...chilly weather. I know what you're thinking..."Is she crazy?" and yes, I'm sure I'll be whining come January. My daughter was telling me just today that I seem to suffer SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) more than most in the middle of winter...but I digress.

Let me clarify...what I mean by loving chilly FALL weather is...it's time to warm the house with long, slow, simmering soups and stews. Today was chilly and rainy and I didn't even want to head out to the grocery store.

I've been thinking about lentils and wondering what to do with my baby beet greens for a week now. I used the beets last week and didn't want to discard the tops. Often I saute them with a little olive oil, garlic, and a splash of balsamic vinegar and serve them as a side with roasted salmon or chicken, but I didn't feel like foraging through the freezer. It's tiny but packed...and frankly...scary at this point.

So I rummaged through the fridge and found, in addition to the beet greens, a half a bulb of fennel root (I like it better than celery for the "base" along with onions and carrots) some fresh thyme...too bad I didn't have any fresh rosemary on hand. Then I scrounged around the pantry (actually my hall cupboard, but that's for another story) and found some diced tomatoes, my lentils (the black turtle beans are now soaking in a pot - what will I do with them tomorrow?)

So without further ado....Fall Lentil & Beetgreen Soup....just lean in closer to the screen...can't you just smell the heavenly aroma?

Now that the season is changing...what's your favorite "new season" dish?