Lentils and Rice ... rather nice!

A favorite meal around our house is lentils and rice. It's relatively easy, relatively inexpensive, and downright tasty! It goes something like this, but you can modify the spices to suit your taste:

1 T olive oil
1 t cumin
1/2 t paprika
2 t coriander seeds
1 c regular lentils
1 1/2 jasmine rice
1 t salt
1/2 t pepper
3 T olive oil
3 large onions, sliced in half moons, thinly

In a large pot, heat 1 T olive oil  over medium heat. Add cumin, paprika, and coriander for 45 seconds, stirring gently. Add the lentils and rice to the pot and stir gently for 1 minute or so, so that the spices coat the rice and lentils. Add 4 cups of water and stir gently. [Start the onions, instructions below, at this point.] Cover pot and simmer for 15 minutes (check to make sure that you don't run out of water... nothing stinks like scorched rice... not that I know from experience...). Uncover and cook for 5 more minutes. Taste. If the lentils could use a few more minutes cooking, add a bit of water and let them go. Add the salt and pepper, adjust seasonings if needed, and serve with onions on top of it.

For the onions, add the 3 T olive oil to a heavy-bottomed frying pan, and turn on to medium-low heat. Add the onions, and let the onions caramelize. Be sure to stir periodically, so as to prevent burning.

Yum-yum-yum!