Nowruz, or you may know it as Persian New Year it slated to begin this Thursday in Iran. It is my favorite holiday, a nod to my fathers birth country and a festive time to celebrate the shedding of winter and delicious food with friends and family. Unfortunately, that is all on hold this year.

There is one tradition that I am so particularly fond of and that is making a Haft Seen table with numerous symbols to properly usher in Spring. It is a sort of alter, one could say.

This struck me as a project that everyone cooped up in their homes might be interested in, growing the Sabzi, or the green grass for the alter. It is quite easy and gives a little sense of purpose in nurturing and watching it grow and change daily. A GOOD type of GERMINATION.

All you really need is about a quarter to half cup of lentils and the sprouts will grow from it, a bowl, kitchen towel, water and sunlight.

TO BEGIN

DAY 1 TAKE A LARGE BOWL, ADD ABOUT A QUARTER TO HALF CUP OF LENTILS, ADD COLD WATER TO COVER, CHANGE OUT THE WATER A FEW TIMES A DAY

DAY 2 CONTINUE SOAKING

DAY 3 CHANGE OUT THE WATER AND THEN KEEP SOAKING

DAY 4 DRAIN THE LENTILS FROM THE WATER. TAKE AN OLD KITCHEN TOWEL OR SOME PAPER TOWELS AND SOAK THEM WITH WATER. RING THEM OUT, THEY SHOULD BE WET BUT NOT DRIPPING. PUT TOWEL ON A PLATE - YOU CAN USE A PIE PLATE OR SOMETHING LIKE IT. ADD THE LENTILS ON TOP. PLACE IN A WARM AND SUNNY SPOT IN YOUR HOME AND SPRAY WITH SOME WATER. (YOU COULD REUSE THE WATER THEY WERE PREVIOUSLY SOAKING IN) GIVE THEM A SPRITZ 3-4 TIMES A DAY TO KEEP MOIST. THEY SHOULD BE SWIMMING IN WATER BUT JUST SO THEY DON’T DRY UP. CLICK THIS LINK TO SEE WHAT THEY SHOULD LOOK LIKE (COURTESY OF BOTTOM OF A POT!)

DAY 5 KEEP SPRAYING WATER ON YOUR LENTILS AND MAKE SURE THE TOWEL IS DAMP. YOU MIGHT START SEEING LITTLE SPROUTS!

DAY 6 YOU MIGHT BEGIN TO SEE MORE SIGNS OF LIFE. CAREFULLY TRANSFER YOUR LENTILS OFF OF THE TOWEL DIRECTLY TO THE PLATE. BE GENTLE. ONCE IN ON THE PLATE, YOU CAN COVER WITH THE SAME TOWEL, SPRAY IT DOWN A FEW TIMES AND KEEP IN THE SUN. KEEP MOIST THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

Check back here tomorrow for DAY 7

You can see mine below on day 8.