Lentil Soup

Hearty lentil soup, chock full of veggies and very yummy. Serve with warm cornbread.

Ingredients

• 1 onion, chopped

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 2 carrots, diced

• 2 stalks celery, chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1 bay leaf

• 1 teaspoon dried basil

• 1 (14.5 ounce) can crushed tomatoes

• 2 cups dry lentils

• 8 cups water

• 1/2 cup spinach, rinsed and thinly sliced

• 2 tablespoons vinegar

• salt to taste

• ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a large soup pot, heat oil over medium heat.

2. Add onions, carrots, and celery; cook and stir until onion is tender.

3. Stir in garlic, bay leaf, oregano, and basil; cook for 2 minutes.

4. Stir in lentils, and add water and tomatoes.

5. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for at least 1 hour.

6. When ready to serve stir in spinach, and cook until it wilts.

7. Stir in vinegar, and season to taste with salt and pepper, and more vinegar if desired.

Mushroom Lentil Barley Stew

This crock pot recipe is easy to assemble and needs no attention while it cooks. The flavors blend nicely to give it a wholesome earthy flavor that is unbelievably vegetarian. Serve with garlic bread.

Ingredients

• 2 quarts vegetable broth

• 2 cups sliced fresh button mushrooms

• 1 ounce dried shiitake mushrooms, torn into pieces

• 3/4 cup uncooked pearl barley

• 3/4 cup dry lentils

• 1/4 cup dried onion flakes

• 2 teaspoons minced garlic

• 2 teaspoons dried summer savory

• 3 bay leaves

• 1 teaspoon dried basil

• 2 teaspoons ground black pepper

• salt to taste

Directions

1. In a slow cooker, mix the broth, button mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, barley, lentils, onion flakes, garlic, savory, bay leaves, basil, pepper, and salt.

2. Cover, and cook 4 to 6 hours on High or 10 to 12 hours on Low. Remove bay leaves before serving.