It's been a busy couple of weeks. Concerts and finals and lots of weekends out of town. When I look at my evenings in the next couple of months, it does look as if things aren't slowing down, because apparently my Life is Baseball. But the thing about baseball is that it is relaxing. You're outside. Sounds aren't on top of you like at a basketball game. It doesn't move as fast as soccer. The pace calms me and even though we have to hustle through dinner and search for socks that I swore were on the laundry table and now aren't, by the time you get to the field a calmness has come over you and as a parent I appreciate the assigned time to sit outside on a spring evening.
Frank loves baseball. Tonight he pitched and caught and played outfield. He got several hits and runs. He is meshing well with his teammates and his coach appreciates him. I am predicting a good season.
Frank wanted a burger. "A big, juicy burger that I can sink into," he said after the game. "I ate dinner more than four hours ago!" he exclaimed.
I talked him into a stop at the store to get some groceries and assured him that I could make him a burger while he took a shower. In addition to ground beef we also got fruit, eggs, juice, and lentils.
"Argh! Not lentil soup!" he moaned.
"No. Lentil tacos," I said.
"Ah! Lentil tacos!" he said.
Because lentil tacos are one of my kids' favorite dinners. Even my knuckle bumping baseball player with smelly, dusty clothes loves lentil tacos. And? You make them in the crock pot! Perfect for nights that you need a quick dinner before heading to the ballpark. 'Course if you're the mother of an 11 year old boy you may find yourself also cooking a big, juicy burger later that night, but at least you know that the first dinner was cheap, lowfat and nutritious lentils!
Lentil Tacos
3/4 C onions, finely chopped
1 garlic clove
1 t oil
1/2 lb lentils
1 T chili powder
2 t cumin
1 t oregano
2 cups broth
Saute onions in oil until tender. Add garlic, lentils and spices. Cook and stir for 1 minute.
Put lentil mixture and broth in the crock pot for 6 hours on slow.
Add salsa and stir.
Serve in soft or hard taco shells topped with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, etc.
Play ball!
