Lentil bit of dinner success

The pressure cooker that I bought several weeks ago continues to come in handy. It's a 6-quart Presto model, and it whipped up a super-duper cheap dinner in 20 minutes Monday night.

I took a whole, 1 pound bag of green lentils (79 cents), rinsed them in a colander, then popped them in the pressure cooker pan. I added a tablespoon of olive oil (that's to keep them from frothing) and added enough water to cover them by two inches. I added a 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon each garlic and onion powder, 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves and a pinch of dried, ground mustard. I sealed the cooker, raised the heat to high.

After the regulator/weight started to do its little dance, I reduced the heat and let them cook for 3 minutes. I then cut the heat, set the cooker off the stove and let the pressure come down in several minutes' time.

The result: a nice, thick lentil "stew" that, seriously, tasted as though they'd cooked all day in the crock-pot. Very hearty. Very filling and super tasty. Dinner for four (and lunch the next day for three) for 79 cents TOTAL.