Let’s Do Lunch!

Seattleites of a certain age may remember the Frederick & Nelson store located on 5th and Pine in downtown Seattle. Frederick’s had a large restaurant on one of the upper levels that offered seasonal fashion shows and yummy lunch options. My mom loved going out to lunch and seeing the latest fashions, so we went there often. I have fond memories of enjoying meals and time spent with my mom and sisters there beginning from my early childhood and continuing into my adult years. My brother even joined us on several occasions.

Fast forward many decades and, like my mom, I love going out for lunch, whether it’s a picnic by a lake after a beautiful hike, an extravagant lunch at a white tablecloth restaurant, or lunch at home, they’re all enjoyable, and something I look forward to daily. In fact, one of our favorite songs is Jimmy Buffet’s I Wish Lunch Could Last Forever 🎶.

So it’s not a surprise that I live in France, where lunch is taken very seriously. Many businesses close from noon – 2:00 to allow employees time to savor a good lunch. In fact, it is actually illegal for employees in French companies to eat lunch at their desks; seriously! (Click here to learn more). I wholeheartedly agree.

When we travel, we usually enjoy sightseeing in the morning, then a delicious lunch in a restaurant frequented by locals. Those of you who regularly follow my blog have read about many of the amazing meals theTravelersketcher and I have enjoyed during our travels. However, today I’m sharing a few of our favorite dishes we prepare at home.

We both love cooking and experimenting with new techniques and ingredients; here are some of our favorites.

Rebecca Goes Rendezvous recently posted a blog about some great British dishes which lead to a discussion in the comments section about Shepherd’s Pie; one of my favorites. I hadn’t made it for a long time, so when we arrived home from Spain a few weeks ago, it was the first thing I made. For additional recipes, check out Wet and Dusty Roads recent post on Cottage and Shepherd’s Pies. These look amazingly delicious! Here’s my recipe.

Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie for Two

1 – 2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped carrot

1/2 cup chopped celery

1 tablespoon chopped garlic

3/4 cup sliced mushrooms

3/4 cup chopped cabbage

1/2 cup frozen spinach, thawed, drained, and chopped

Salt, pepper, dried herbs; thyme, sage, and rosemary

1/4 cup cooked lentils

1 – 2 cups veggie stock

1/4 cup white wine

1 tablespoon flour

3 cups of your favorite mashed potatoes

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add the onions and sauté for a few minutes before adding the carrot and celery; sauté until al dente. Add the garlic and continue cooking a few minutes; add the mushrooms and cabbage; season with salt, pepper, and herbs to taste; sauté until all veggies are soft.

When the veggies are soft, deglaze the pan with white wine. Once it’s evaporated, sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir to incorporate. Add the stock and stir to desired consistency. The mixture should be slightly thick. Add a little more stock if it’s too thick. Toss in the spinach and lentils; stir to incorporate.

Place the mixture in a 8 x 5 inch (20 x 13 cm) baking dish, top with prepared mashed potatoes, and a few tablespoons of grated cheese. Bake at 375F (180C) for about 15 minutes.

Place under the broiler until the top is golden. Serve piping hot!

I add a little cheese to the mashed potatoes to increase the protein and to add flavor. Choose your favorite cheeses that melt nicely; here are the ones I use.

As a side note, the French seem to eat a lot of meat, and it can be difficult at times to find vegetarian dishes. But vegetarianism is catching on here and we are seeing more options in most restaurants now.

As always, I would love to hear from you so please leave a comment.

Bon appétit!

Tricia