{"id":1372,"date":"2014-07-23T08:01:29","date_gmt":"2014-07-23T12:01:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/?p=1372"},"modified":"2015-05-04T11:20:56","modified_gmt":"2015-05-04T15:20:56","slug":"i-must-be-doing-it-wrong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/i-must-be-doing-it-wrong\/","title":{"rendered":"I must be doing it wrong"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ok, I admit it:\u00a0 I’m a one pot cook.\u00a0 Oh, I can do 12 dish feasts for many people, but when I’m at home, I don’t.\u00a0 There are so many excellent dishes out there that give you a relatively complete meal in one pot or one pan, and for your average night, it saves time and clean up.\u00a0 (That first is going to be even more important as I go back to work full time next month.) Unfortunately, when photographing, it leaves you with decidedly fewer options for plating.<\/p>\n

I picked out two more dishes to photograph from my mother’s cookbook, and they are both one pot main courses.\u00a0 The first, Mujadara, a Lebanese, is one of my favorites.\u00a0 It is essentially lentils and rice with caramelized onions.\u00a0 You don’t get much simpler than that and it sounds like it would be boring, but somehow it’s not.\u00a0 I like to add goat cheese to mine, but given the choice, I would add goat cheese to just about anything.<\/p>\n

Mujadara<\/p>\n

1 package brown lentils (1 lb)
\n2 medium onions
\n2 cups raw rice
\n1\/2 cup olive oil<\/p>\n

Procedure
\nCook lentils in about 5 cups of water until done, adding more water if necessary to keep a slightly loose consistency. Meanwhile, slice onions and saut\u00e9 in the olive oil until very dark brown, almost but not quite burned. Cook rice as usual. To serve, combine rice, lentils, olive oil, and onions.<\/p>\n

Servings: 10<\/p>\n

\"UmJadra\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Keeping with the middle eastern theme, the second dish that I chose was Bagala Polo (also called Baghali Polo).\u00a0 This one is a Persian chicken dish.\u00a0 The family was not overly crazy about this, but some of that may have been the rice.\u00a0 I picked up some rice from the Asian market, and it was more glutenous than they are used to, and had a distinctly different flavor.<\/p>\n

Baghala Polo with Chicken<\/p>\n

This is an Iranian dish that Alice taught me to make–yes, Alice.\u00a0 She raves about it, but only once in my life has she actually made some to share with me.\u00a0 I finally had to learn to make it myself if I wanted to get any–and I did.<\/p>\n

6 Chicken (6 thighs)
\n2 cups Rice
\n1 tsp Turmeric
\n1\/2 tsp Comino (cumin)
\n3 tsp Dill weed
\n3 cups water<\/p>\n

Procedure
\nFry the chicken thighs in a pot till browned; when it releases the oil, put in two cups rice. Fry rice with chicken. Add 3 cups water. Bring to a boil. Add 3 teaspoons dill weed, 1\/2 teaspoon comino, about 1\/2 to 1 teaspoon turmeric. Reduce some of the water; cover tightly and reduce heat; let steam for 20 minutes.<\/p>\n

Servings: 6<\/p>\n

\"Polo\"<\/a>Neither of these is exactly pretty, but I suspect that a whole lot more could be done with these if I had any idea what I was doing with regards to set up and plating.\u00a0 I think that a lot more research is going to be involved before I can get this food photo thing down, and maybe some better table dressing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ok, I admit it:\u00a0 I’m a one pot cook.\u00a0 Oh, I can do 12 dish feasts for many people, but when I’m at home, I don’t.\u00a0 There are so many excellent dishes out there that give you a relatively complete meal in one pot or one pan, and for your average night, it saves time […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":1374,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1372","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cooking"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/UmJadra1.jpg?fit=840%2C941&ssl=1","author_info":{"display_name":"Julie Stubbs","author_link":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/author\/exhalia\/"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/UmJadra1.jpg?fit=840%2C941&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2gp05-m8","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":856,"url":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/856\/","url_meta":{"origin":1372,"position":0},"title":"Successful Culinary Weekend","author":"admin","date":"April 30, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm late getting my post up this week because I had a wonderful weekend.\u00a0 I have two food related items to post today. The first is a thank you to my cousin, Leah, for posting this recipe to Facebook.\u00a0 She was absolutely right.\u00a0 This recipe for biscuits is amazing!\u00a0 I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cooking"","block_context":{"text":"Cooking","link":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/category\/cooking\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/20120430-102529.jpg?fit=896%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/20120430-102529.jpg?fit=896%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/20120430-102529.jpg?fit=896%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/20120430-102529.jpg?fit=896%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1451,"url":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/cream-of-fill-in-the-vegetable-soup-strikes-again\/","url_meta":{"origin":1372,"position":1},"title":"Cream of “fill in the vegetable” Soup Strikes Again!","author":"Julie Stubbs","date":"July 21, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I love soup.\u00a0 It's one of those things you can make as a vegetarian and no one feels like they're missing out.\u00a0 It's also now closely associated with warm the companionship of friends.\u00a0 My husband's family, growing up, was a military family, which frequently meant being away from family at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cooking"","block_context":{"text":"Cooking","link":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/category\/cooking\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Cream-of-Summer-Vegetable-Soup.jpg?fit=840%2C573&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Cream-of-Summer-Vegetable-Soup.jpg?fit=840%2C573&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Cream-of-Summer-Vegetable-Soup.jpg?fit=840%2C573&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Cream-of-Summer-Vegetable-Soup.jpg?fit=840%2C573&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":801,"url":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/never-felt-this-way-before\/","url_meta":{"origin":1372,"position":2},"title":"Never felt this way before","author":"admin","date":"March 25, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"In my last post, I left you wondering what had happened to the other 2 and a quarter pounds of my Finn fleece.\u00a0 Admit it, you've been worrying about it all week.\u00a0 So here is how it breaks down.\u00a0 12 ounces of the fleece, I didn't even bother to wash.\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Fibers"","block_context":{"text":"Fibers","link":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/category\/fibers\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/drum.jpg?fit=640%2C490&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/drum.jpg?fit=640%2C490&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/drum.jpg?fit=640%2C490&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2291,"url":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/first-flush-of-a-fresh-fervor\/","url_meta":{"origin":1372,"position":3},"title":"First Flush of a Fresh Fervor","author":"Julie Stubbs","date":"February 1, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"For me, there is nothing like the rush that comes with learning a new skill. Last Fall I started taking pottery and I have been deep in it. The studio where I am taking classes allows student to use the space at any time there is not a class going\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Pottery"","block_context":{"text":"Pottery","link":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/category\/pottery\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2647.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2647.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2647.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2647.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2647.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":157,"url":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/cheese-experiment\/","url_meta":{"origin":1372,"position":4},"title":"Cheese Experiment","author":"admin","date":"October 11, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"In my former life, back when the government had money to spend on research, I was a scientist. A geneticist and a microbiologist to be exact. That tendency towards microbiology is strongly represented in my crafts as well, i.e. baking, brewing and cheese making. I bring a love of experimentation\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cooking"","block_context":{"text":"Cooking","link":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/category\/cooking\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Mattar paneer","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20111011-0819551.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20111011-0819551.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20111011-0819551.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1308,"url":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/serendipity\/","url_meta":{"origin":1372,"position":5},"title":"Serendipity","author":"Julie Stubbs","date":"May 5, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Sometimes life doesn't go your way, and sometimes, when you think life isn't going your way, you find out you were wrong.\u00a0 Like this week: I had planned to make red lentils, and because I bought a huge bag of quinoa from Costco, and I need to find more ways\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cooking"","block_context":{"text":"Cooking","link":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/category\/cooking\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/splitpea-and-quinua-cakes.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/splitpea-and-quinua-cakes.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/splitpea-and-quinua-cakes.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/splitpea-and-quinua-cakes.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/splitpea-and-quinua-cakes.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1372","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1372"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1372\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1376,"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1372\/revisions\/1376"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1372"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1372"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1372"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}