New Years Eve I started our new year's resolution to have more vegetables. We went to the Turnip Truck, our local organic food store, to buy something green things and dried fruit. We got cabbage for new years day and some Kale for the eve to have with our Lentil soup. I have never cooked Kale or lentils before the eve. Not sure as much as we love turnip greens, collards, and such that we have never had Kale. It only took about 30 minutes to cook with just a little water in the bottom of the pot, salt and pepper to taste, and some pieces of ham from Christmas dinner. Wash them and tear into bite size pieces. I think they would be good with a few tablespoons of finely chopped onion.
Oh how wonderful. So rich, tinder, delicious, and bright green. Made a pan of cornbread with stone ground flour that our friend Doug bought for us at Stone Mountain Georgia.
Lentil Soup
Dec. 31, 2009
Ingredients
- 2 links Italian sausage made into small bite size pieces and about a cup of left over Honey baked ham pieces
- Salt and black pepper
- 3 large celery stalks, chopped
- 2 to 3 large carrots, scraped lightly and chopped
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 6 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried Italian and garlic seasoning, Mrs. Dash, a few dashes, ho ho
- 2 cardboard containers chicken broth 32 oz. each, total of 64 oz.
- 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes in juice, my favorite is Delmonte
- 1 and ½ cups lentils, rinsed
- Cook Kale separately and add some pieces to the bowl of soup. Makes it beautiful and even more delicious!
Directions
- Heat the oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat.
- Sauté the sausage and ham, add onions, carrots, celery and garlic.
- Sauté until the onions are translucent, about 8 minutes.
- Add the broth and tomatoes with their juice.
- Season the soup, to taste, with salt and pepper, Ms. Dash, Italian spices, or other of your favorite spices.
- Bring the soup to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until all blended stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.
- Add the lentils.
- Cover and continue simmering until the lentils are tender, about 40 minutes. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve.
