On Friday, December 19, 2014 8:11:16 AM UTC-5, Julie Bove wrote:

> I had to do it years ago. I often make one dish type meals adding in much
> more non starchy vegetables. Green and wax beans being the favorite in this
> house. Much more satisfying to mix a little pasta or rice into a soup or
> casserole than to have a plate loaded with veggies and two bites of rice.
> At least for me.

Preferences certainly vary. I prefer meat and fish grilled, which I've
heard you say you don't like. I rarely prepare one-dish meals. I find
a meal more satisfying if it has at least three components. When I have soup
for lunch, I almost always accompany it with a small piece of cheese and a
slice of bread. My go-to soups are vegetable soup and lentil soup, rarely
with any sort of meat or simple carbohydrate in them.

That said, a week or two ago I made a Turkish lentil soup with bulgur;
it was wonderful. No bread on the side when I ate that one; it paired
well with diced cucumbers dressed with yogurt. I couldn't find online the
recipe that I used; this one is similar:

<http://keeprecipes.com/recipe/howtocook/turkish-red-lentil-soup-sumac-0>

Cindy Hamilton