Lentil Soup

It has been a crisp, cool, sunshine filled, blue sky day...it put me in the mood for some home made lentil soup.  Easy to make, it's good for you, and it's warm and filling!

Lentil Soup

Ingredients:
1 lb dry lentils
4 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter
1/2 lb chopped smoked ham (could exclude the ham and add more lentils for vegetables if you like)
1/2 large diced onion
3 diced celery stalks including leaves
1 diced carrot
1 heaping tsp minced garlic
1 large cube chicken bouillon (dissolved into some of the 6 cups of water)
6 cups water
salt & pepper (to taste)
1 small palm of cumin (to taste)

Soak lentils in a bowl of water for about 1/2 hour (not necessary but helps soften the lentils prior to cooking).  Discard the things that float to the top, then rinse and drain.

Put butter and olive oil in a pot and cook the onion, celery and carrot until softened.

Add the ham to heat through.  Then add the my spices (the flavors combine with the meat and vegetables before adding the liquid and seems to enhance the end result somehow).

Add the lentils and water and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer, cover and let cook until the lentils are softened, at least an hour or two (the longer, the better, unless you like firm lentils).   Add more water if the soup becomes too thick (we like it thick, so I usually don't add more water).

Try it, I think you'll like it!

We have been waiting for a nice sunny day (after several days of non stop gray, rainy days) to put the water sealant on our deck, and today was finally the day!  It was much easier than we expected, but the fumes were something else! This is a great action shot, wouldn't you agree?

Once this is dry, we will be ready to begin building the railing...one step closer (there are so many steps, LOL!) to completion.

I liked this shot, I'm looking up into the trees (still trying to capture the ever elusive leaves falling to the ground)...it's a little different, but I thought you might like it!

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise