Lentils and Lethal Weapons

Yum yum lentil soup. Minus the $3.99 red pepper. Are red peppers that expensive where you all live? Wow. Why do lentils, beans, etc., all say to sort and wash? Sort what - why do they sometimes have rocks and little pieces of mud in them? Why aren't they sorted and washed before packaging. Its a little bit like buying dirty underwear, isn't it? Yeh, I do have a lot of questions.

I'm actually cooking tonight. Last night dinner was green chili sour cream dip and tortillas. Store bought. But tonight I also have a recipe for orange date bars as well as the lentil salad. More yum.

One more suitcase to pack. Tomorrow I go find boxes and bubble wrap for my pottery pieces. Why, oh why did I ever bring those? I got a box from my daughter today full of yummy skin stuff which is great because it is so dry here that your skin gets sore and falls off. Well, almost. It does get sore, red, cracked, wrinkled - etc., etc.

Also in the box were pics of grandchildren, beautiful grandchildren. I'm not posting the pics for now, cuz ya' all know why, but I can't wait to see them. I hope my new camera battery arrives by then. Hubby says oranges aren't quite ready to pick yet. I said, "Wait for Nan!" Picking oranges with grandkids has become a nice Christmas ritual.

Called the airline a bit ago to ask for wheelchair, and it was hillarious as I was on hold forever, but some of the tidbits to keep one interested were as follows:

Any toiletries must be in 3 ounce containers and put into quart size plastic bags. OK? (Quart size bags are wonderful protection from liquid bombs.) Are the airlines merging with the sandwich bag companies?

New drinks are being offered, something about a super martini. Sounded delicous. Well, three or four of those would take your mind off a body cavity search for weapons like film canister openers, would it not? Nah, my whole family will be waiting - I don't want to slosh off the plane and breath straight alcohol into their faces.

I can't wait to face up to the TSA people - that is the T__tty patters (underwire bras ya know). Ya might wriggle one out (wire, that is) and strangle the guy in front of you. Ya know how threatening grandmas can be. It might be what the underwire is holding up that is the lethal weapon. Yuck, yuck.

Last time I flew, three TSA people scared me to death over a film canister opener about the size of small nail nippers, which according to the TSA website were acceptable, however a disclaimer did note that any TSA agent could declare any item a lethal weapon, which whether you know it is in your possession or not is a criminal offense. 'Tis true.

Is it me, or are people just getting meaner? I know in the past few months here, its been like dealing with, as my grandma says, "ol' bears with sore pee pees" Ok, ok, time to go wash my mouth out with soap, and finish the lentil salad.

Here's the recipe if you want:
1 cup dried lentils
1 medium sized carrot, finely diced or 1/4 cup
6 green onions, thinkly slice
l celery stalk finely diced
1/2 red bell pepper finely diced
1/2 cup cilantro leaves finely chopped
1/2 cup italian parsely leaves fine chopped
1 clove garlic minced
l tsp lemon zest
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
romain lettuce leaves for garnish

Cook lentils till just tender. Cool.
Toss lentils, carrot, green onions, celery, bell pepper, (I've done without that one), cilantro, parsely, garlic and lemon zest in large bowl. Drizzel with lemon juice and olive oil and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Set on lettuce leaves.

G'night, ya'll.