Roasted Root Vegetables with Lentils

Talk about a simple dinner, you guys.

And I mean seeeeemple. So simple it almost makes you mad. So simple that when it almost made you mad, you got happy again because you realized that when you got mad, it wasn’t because of how simple this dinner was. It was in fact because you missed your calling in life by never auditioning for American Idol and getting to touch Ryan Seacrest’s abnormally small head. But instead you chose to dance and sing at a slightly inappropriate volume to “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” last night in a restaurant. With a stranger. And it got caught on camera. And tweeted.

I WAS JUST FOLLOWING WHITNEY’S ORDER.

But that’s neither here nor there.

This dinner right here. It’s that simple. And it’s incredibly delicious. So incredibly delicious that it almost makes you mad. So incredibly delicious that when it almost made you mad, you got happy again because you realized that when you got mad, it wasn’t because of how incredibly delicious this dinner was. It was in fact because you sort of wished you were wearing a different shirt in the photo that got leaked to the entire world last night when you were dancing and singing to “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” Something about the stripes, the loose arms and the weird boat neck thing just isn’t doing it for you when you look at the photo the next day. The stranger’s shirt was much cuter. But you didn’t care at that moment because you were dancing with somebody in your time of mourning.

I WAS DOING WHAT I HAD TO DO.

But that’s neither here nor there.

This dinner right here. It’s that incredibly delicious. And it’s unbelievably healthy. So unbelievably healthy that it almost ma—- oh, ouch! That hook around my neck really hurts, man.

I’m sorry but that ricotta cheese on top really wants to be in your mouth.

I think we both know what you have to do.

Roasted Root Vegetables with Lentils:

What it took for 2:

* 3 carrots, sliced into 2-inch sticks
* 3 beets, cut in a medium dice
* 2 sweet potatoes, cut in a medium dice
* 1 tsp ground cumin
* 1 tsp smoked paprika
* 1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
* 1 cup green lentils
* 1 Tbs. butter
* 3 dollops ricotta cheese (or more!)
* coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
* 1/4 cup parsley for garnish

Preheat oven to 400.

Toss the carrots, beets and sweet potatoes with the cumin, paprika, oil and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Arrange on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast veggies for 40 minutes, checking at the 30-minute mark.

Cook lentils in boiling water until tender, 20-30 minutes. Drain and toss in the butter. Stir to combine.

Serve lentils topped with roasted veggies, a dollop or 35 of ricotta cheese, another good pinch of salt and pepper, and fresh parsley for garnish.

Okay fine.