Robin Redbreast

Robin Redbreast
Birds can represent the fluttering, darting thoughts of intuition. This is why little birds helped Cinderella help herself.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Cooking with Cinderella

"You, Cinderella!" said her stepmother, "You're all dusty and dirty and yet you want to go to the wedding?" When Cinderella kept pleading, her stepmother finally said, "I've emptied a bowlful of lentils into the ashes. If you can pick them out all the lentils in two hours, you may have permission to go." The maiden went through the back door into the garden and cried out,"Oh, you tame pigeons, you turtledoves, and all you birds under heaven, come and help me pick the good ones for the little pot, the bad ones for your little crop".  Two white pigeons came flying to the kitchen window, followed by turtledoves. Eventually, all the birds under heaven swooped down, swarmed into the kitchen and settled around the ashes. The pigeons bobbed their heads and began to peck, peck, peck, peck, and all the other birds also. 
(Ashenputtle, Brothers Grimm 1812, trans. Zipes, J.)
California quail

Well, now. I think that if Cinderella lived in the here and the now, she could ride two food waves at once with 

California Lentils -N- Bacon
1/4 lb. English bacon
1/4 cup olive oil
1 onion, minced fine
2 cups of lentils (preferably not picked from the ashes)
3 cups water
1/4 cup red salsa fresco


Bring the water to boil in large sauce pot and add the English bacon. Simmer 5 minutes, then drain, reserving the liquid. Fry the bacon in another pan, adding olive oil as needed. Add the onion, cook till just turning golden. Season with pepper and taste a bite. Pour the lentil liquid back into the sauce pot, bring to a boil, and add the lentils, the bacon and onion mixture.  Taste. Add the salsa and serve with hot corn tortillas.