Very lekker Green Lentils

This is part of a whole meal presented on Masterchef by a contestant., but I wanted a lentil recipe and this one filled the bill. it does have pancetta in it which gives it a very nice taste, but perhaps you can suggest a vegetarian alternative. Soy sauce? Not sure that's the same thing. I look forward to hearing your suggestion.

GREEN LENTILS

Ingredients:

1 Bay leaf
1 sprig Rosemary
1 sprig Sage [which I didn't have but it tasted fine without it]
250 gr Green Lentils - preferably lenticchie di castelluccio [I "made do" with Puy lentils!]
2 Tbl olive oil
1 white onion - finely chopped
1 carrot - finely chopped
1 celery stick - finely chopped
1 small leek 100g piece unsmoked pancetta*

• Tie herbs together with a string (or - throw in some dried herbs - just as good)
• Soak lentils in cold water whilst finely chopping vegetables
• Heat olive oil in a pan and add chopped vegetables and pancetta.
• Cook, gently stirring for 5-10 minutes until the vegetables are soft but not browned.
• Add the drained lentils and tied herbs [!] and cook for 5 minutes, mxing everything. Do not season.
• Add enough vegetable stock to just cover the lentils. 
• Bring to the boil, reduce heat and cook for 30 minutes until soft.
• At this point you can set aside and re-heat when needed

If there is any left over, add more stock and serve it as a delicious lentil soup!

Bon appétit!

Baked cucumber à la Julia

The official recipe calls for 6 cucumbers for 6 people; I used one for the four of us and halved her amounts (more or less)...

6 cucumbers about 8" long    

Marinade:
2 Tbl wine vinegar                    
1.5 tsp salt
a 2 qt [?] porcelaine or st/st bowl [why not glass??]

Sauce
A baking dish 12" diam x 1.5" deep [or anything else you have handy!]
1.5 oz [some] melted butter - *I poured olive oil over the whole thing instead
3-4 Tbl chopped spring onion
1/2 tsp pepper

• Peel and halve cucumbers, scoop out seeds. Cut into strips about 1/2" wide, cut into 2" pieces [which I'd have done first but there you go...]
• Mix vinegar, salt and sugar in a bowl and leave to stand for 30 mins or several hours

Pre-heat oven to 375ºF/Gas mark 5

• Drain, pat dry 
• Toss cucumbers i the baking dish with the other ingredients* and place uncovered in a  pre-heated oven for about 1 hour, tossing 2 or 3 tines until the cucumbers are tender but still have a suggestion of crispiness and texture. They will barely colour during the cooking.

You may wish to add: parsley, parsley and cream, parsley, cream and sautèed mushrooms or [Mornay] cheese sauce. I didn't find it necessary on this occasion but I suppose any of those would be nice too.

Sorry, no photo. If I make it again and have time, I'll post one!

Ella's Favorite Things Rice Krispy Treats

Just your basic Rice Krispie Treats covered with caramel and white chocolate.

Makes about 20 squares (cut 4 x 5). To double the recipe, make it in 2 batches unless you have very large bowls! I found the ingredients at Target.

1 bag (10.5) marshmallows
½ stick (4 Tbsp) butter
1 tsp vanilla (optional)
½ box (6 cups) puffed rice cereal
1 bag Kraft caramel bits (11 oz bag), more convenient than the individually wrapped soft caramels
2 Tbsp milk
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Line a 13 x 9 pan with plastic wrap or wax paper, leaving some draped over the ends to help lift out afterwards (smaller pan makes taller squares).

In a medium pan, melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows, stir occasionally until they are melted and mixed in. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla (optional). In a large mixing bowl, mix together cereal and marshmallow goo, until well coated.

Turn cereal into pan and press down carefully with some wax paper or buttered spatula.  When cooled and set, melt caramel bits in microwave with the milk, for 2 minutes in 30 second increments, stirring in between. Pour over cereal.

Melt white chocolate chips in microwave or over double boiler, be careful not to cook too long. To make it easier to drizzle, add a little vegetable or coconut oil to the chips before melting. Drizzle over  caramel in diagonal lines, cool in fridge to set up. Cut into squares.