Hearty Lentil Soup

There is nothing I love more than a simmering pot

of soup on the stove in the wintertime.

Ok, I love summer more.

And margaritas.

And...

Digressing...

Back to the soup.

My Mom made this soup the other day and I had one taste

and went out to get ingredients to make a pot.

It's super easy.

Takes maybe 20 minutes to half an hour of prepping but

it's so worth it!

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 onion, chopped

4 celery stalks, chopped

1 clove garlic, chopped

4 carrots, chopped

1 tsp. dried oregano, crushed

1 bay leaf

1 tsp. salt (I used a bit less)

1/2 tsp. pepper

8 cups chicken or beef stock (I used all chicken stock, my mom used 4 cups of each)
  - I use low sodium stock

1/2 cup vegetable juice if desired

1 1/2 cups dry lentils, rinsed and drained

Dash of hot sauce

Dash of lemon juice

In a large saucepan, on medium-low heat, warm up the olive oil.  Add onion and celery and saute for 5 minutes. 

Add garlic, saute 3-4 minutes longer.  Add carrots, saute 1 minute.  

Make sure you rinse your lentils really well, especially if you buy them in bulk.  I bought them in a bag.

Add oregano, bay leaf, salt, pepper, stock, veggie juice and lentils.  

Bring to a simmer, cover and simmer til lentils and veggies are soft and tender. ~30-40 minutes

Finish the soup with a dash of hot sauce and a dash of lemon juice in your bowl.

 It smells SO good in my house right now!