Sausage & Lentil Soup

When in the world did these go out of style?

Jessica and I were riding in the convertible the other day on our way to pick up Kaia and she asked for a pony-tail holder.

"Right here on my wrist," I say proudly.

I brought an extra one."

"Oh, my gosh! she exclaims.

(Horrified look on her face...) 

I'll get one from Amy when we get to her house."

"What's wrong with this one?" I ask.

"Mom, no one has worn those in years!"

"But I was so excited when a saw them in the dollar store and I bought an entire bag of them," I whined.

Another disgusted look from my daughter...sigh...

When we arrived at Amy's, Jessica promptly asked

for a pony-tail holder.

"Look what Mom tried to give me," she said.

Amy smiles. "The only time I see them used now," she says, "is on camera lenses turned into animals to make children smile when their picture is being made."

(Seems like an awful lot of trouble to me when we could just still use them in our hair....)

"Well, I guess I'm just going to have to start sending you two pictures of anything I'm thinking of buying to see if it's a good idea or not!" I say.

"And if you don't hear from us right away," says Jessica, "it will be safe to assume whatever you're thinking about buying is NOT a good idea."

Hmm..where exactly did she get that smart mouth.....

I did try to wash it out with soap one time when she was little and she proceeded to tell me the soap tasted wonderful....

see what I'm still dealing with...

it's a wonder I can't keep up with even what's appropriate even for pony tails. :)

Today I'm sharing one of my favorite crock pot recipes for Sausage& Lentil Soup. 

I had never had lentils until I tried a bowl of soup at one of my favorite Italian restaurants.  Mind blowing! 

Lentils---where have you been all my life? 

I love to put it in the crock pot before I leave for work and come home to a delicious warm hug in a bowl!   Hope you give it a try.  :)

Sausage & Lentil Soup

1/4 c olive oil

2 medium onions, finely chopped

2 stalks celery, finely chopped

1 cup baby carrots finely chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 lb bag lentils

1 lb ground Italian sausage, cooked and drained

3 quarts vegetable or chicken stock

1 tsp salt, pepper, Cayenne pepper

Chop, chop, chop the vegetables...by hand or by a handy-dandy mini-chopper ;)

Heat the olive oil over medium high heat

Add those beautiful chopped vegetables

Cook, stirring, about 3-4 minutes

Next, brown and drain the sausage

Go ahead and toss the sausage into the crock pot

Next, add the lentils that you have rinsed in a colander

and add the spices

Add the cooked, chopped veggies

Love the Progresso Broth..Found this new one Tuscany Broth and tried it with my recipe along with 2 of their regular Chicken Broth. 

The Tuscany Broth was wonderful and really added a rich flavor to the soup. 

Must go buy gallons more.....

Pour in the 3 quarts of broth...seems like a lot I know, but trust me...you will not be doubting me later...

you will say,

"She is the Lentil Soup Goddess"....

Ahhh...ready for the lid and off to work we go...

This lovely soup is ready and waiting when you

come through the door.

Put on your jammies, snuggle under your

favorite blankie and enjoy!