Although the world is a little strange and scary right now, there’s no doubt about the fact that there is Some Good News going around. Quite literally. John Krasinski has blown us all away with his lockdown YouTube series, and it seems as though there’s nothing that could stop this man from putting a smile on all of our faces. His latest offering is a virtual potluck – and you’re gonna want to see it.

An Epic Video Series

Amidst the drama and the devastation of the current climate, there are some uplifting and happy stories that are making things just a little bit better. While looking at a picture of John Krasinski would probably make most people feel better anyway, it seems as though this actor has gone one step further during his quarantine adventures. From the comfort of his own home, he has created a YouTube series by the name of John Krasinski’s Some Good News – and it really does what it says on the can.

Creating Virtual Happiness

Through this series, John hopes to create virtual happiness and take people’s minds off what’s going on, and there’s no doubt about the fact that he has done this. While all of his videos have been pretty awesome, it was the fifth episode of his show that has really tickled our pickle. That’s because he decided to host a potluck, and he invited some amazing guests along to help him.

Inviting Some Guests

After noting that he’s not much of a cook himself, John decided to let people at home know that he had enlisted the help of people who did know their way around the kitchen for this event. This included Martha Stewart, David Chang, Guy Fieri, and Stanley Tucci – and they all brought something absolutely incredible to the table.

Want to check out this epic potluck for yourself? You can find it on Some Good News.

Even if you’re not a vegan, there are some non-dairy and non-meat treats that will make your mouth water. These crispy, herby, and incredibly wholesome lentil and bulgur wheat cakes are super easy to make, and the taste is simply divine. Check out the recipe!

Ingredients

For the cakes:

• 2 medium-sized onions
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp cumin seeds, curry powder, and yellow mustard seeds each
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 cup small red lentils
• 2 ½ cups vegetable stock
• 1 cup fine bulgur wheat
• Mint leaves, parsley, and coriander to taste
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil (for frying)

For the serving sauce:

• 2 medium-sized tomatoes
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses
• Pepper to taste

The trick in this recipe is to use fine bulgur as opposed to the coarse kind. That way, your cakes won’t fall apart while you’re frying them and will keep their shape nice and firm.

How to Make the Lentil and Bulgur Cakes

Step 1

In a large, deep-pan, warm up the olive oil. In the meantime, peel and chop the onions, and then add them to the pan. Let them cook until translucent for about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Step 2

Add the turmeric, curry powder, and yellow mustard and cumin seeds to the pan and continue cooking for another three to four minutes. Then pour in the vegetable stock and bring it to a boil before adding the red lentils. Lower the heat and cook for about 15 minutes until the lentils become soft.

Step 3

Stir in the fine bulgur wheat and remove the pan from the heat. Cover it with a lid and set aside. In the meantime, chop the mint, coriander, and parsley and mix them into the lentils and bulgur mixture.

Step 4

Once the mixture has cooled off enough to touch it, shape it into six large balls (or ten smaller ones based on your preference). Set them aside for half an hour in the fridge. Grab a shallow pan, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat and fry the bulgur balls for about four minutes on each side. You’ll know they’re ready when they get crisp and golden.

Step 5

Make a fresh tomato sauce to serve with the cakes. Chop the tomatoes and cook over high heat in a saucepan with the olive oil for about five minutes. Crush the tomatoes using a fork, add in a little pepper and the pomegranate molasses, and serve while still warm. Enjoy!