golden,spicy lentil soup.

I am sitting down to my computer with a bowl of this golden lentil soup that i've just whipped up, and a pineapple margarita fizz.
My house smells delicious and exotic (from the curry), and the soup and drink are SO EASY to make, and SO delicious - I may as well share.
for the soup : chop one sweet onion (or any kind will do) and begin simmering it on the bottom of your soup pot. i like to cook this first bit in olive oil and butter - about half and half - but you can leave the butter out if you need to.
as the onion is slowly cooking, chop 6 big carrots up and throw them in. same for a couple of red potatoes. then mince some garlic really small and throw that in after the carrots have been coated and the onions are beginning to turn translucent. if everyone in the house is coming down with the flu - put LOTS of garlic in, if it's date night - 1 or 2 cloves will work.
my Cuban relatives taught me to BROWN spices like cumin - especially when using in a soup or soup type recipe - so that's what i do. before any liquid goes in - toss 2 tablespoons of cumin and stir to brown, also 2 (or 3, depending how you like it) tablespoons of good Indian curry powder. then about 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric and same of coriander. let these spices brown and begin to meld with butter or oil for moments only - don't want to burn spices.
next, splash a bit of marsala wine into your pot - 1/4 to 1/2 a cup is all you'll need. as that is cooking off, throw about 8 oz (or half a bag) of golden lentils in. golden lentils cook more quickly than the green ones and look SO pretty in this soup - but you DEF can substitute!
then, after about 5 mins, pour in your stock. this can be water, chicken stock,veggie stock or even beef stock. you want to cover all of the vegetables plus about 2 inches. at this point, i let it simmer and add a bit of garam masala which adds that depth of flavor - giving a bit of richness even to a vegan soup.
now this soup is ALL YOURS....it will only need to cook for another 25 mins - or until carrots and potatoes are soft, and it's up to you to taste for flavor, saltiness etc - to YOUR liking. if it's TOO intense or salty, add some water. if it lacks salt or flavor - add a boullion cube of your liking. tonight, there were no vegetarians around, so i threw in some smoked ham. a little goes a LONG way for flavor!
as for my FAB pineapple fizzy drink - i LOVE this concept because it's not too strong or too sweet! throw frozen pineapple,tequila and a splash of ginger ale into the blender and zap it. then "pour" over ice (it will be really thick) and top off with bubbly water. especially good with the kind that has a bit of orange flavor - if you shop at Trader Joe's - you'll know just what i mean.

well, that's MY dinner tonight. quick and easy and pretty healthy - as i listen to Nick Drake, dream about things that could have been, should have been - but most importantly - all that is still to come.

I have never been to India. That's something to look forward to.
and even this week - i have never seen my son play in New York city - that's going to happen on tues night. I'll let you know how it goes!