Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Baby It's Cold Outside!


Today is a blustery day and we are going to have soup for supper. We have to keep the calorie count down these days and eat healthy, to prepare for the food frenzy to come! This is a delicious and hearty soup that will warm your belly! Lentils are also a traditional dish in Italian homes on new Year's Eve. They are eaten for good fortune in the New Year ahead! Mange!
Lentil Soup

1 lb. Bag of brown dry lentils
1 small onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 stalks of celery, diced
2-3 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 dried red peppers, broken in half or crushed red pepper to taste
Olive oil
3-4 teaspoons of marinara sauce
2 cans low fat, low sodium chicken broth
3-4 cups water
Dried basil
Dried parsley
Garlic salt or powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Place lentils in a large stockpot and add 3 cups of water and 2 cans of chicken broth. Start cooking over medium heat. As the cooking process continues, you may have to add water depending on how much the lentils soak up while cooking.

In the meantime, place about 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large sauté pan. Add the diced onion, diced carrots, diced celery, chopped garlic, and red pepper. Sauté until vegetables start getting tender; add to the lentils in the stockpot, along with the tomato sauce. When lentils begin to boil, add basil, parsley, salt, pepper and garlic salt or powder to taste. Reduce heat to simmer. Continue to taste for seasoning and add as needed. Lentils should be soft/firm…they should have a bite and not be mushy. This should take about 45 minutes.

Serve over ditalini pasta with grated cheese. Enjoy!

8 comments:

  1. Thanks for the soup recipe. I love to make soup! I love the name of your blog. So funny!

    Jen

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  2. Hi Linda, thanks for helping me out with the supper menu.. Dh will love this.. or I might add it to the menu on Sunday. We're having his side of the family..hope you're having a super day..
    hugs ~lynne~

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  3. It's cold and rainy here, lentil soup would be perfect on a day like today.

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  4. Just wanted to stop by and wish you a blessed and very Merry Christmas! ♥ Hugs :) Shauna

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  5. I love soups espicially ones like this that are hardy!

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  6. I love lentil soup SO much! I haven't made it in a while now and your making me think about it!

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  7. Linda I made your cookie dough truffles- to die for they are so delicious. I posted about them today and linked you! Thanks!

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