lentil vegetable soup...

this is only the second time i've cooked lentils...and both times...i've made soup.  the first time...i followed a crock pot recipe that i have...and added meatballs at the end.  this time...i followed the recipe one of my favorite tv personalities...the barefoot contessa.  

honestly...i don't really follow recipes.  i use them as more of a guideline for what i can and cannot get away with.  

french green lentils.

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chopped sweet onion.

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thyme, oregano and marjoram (from my garden).

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carrots and celery.

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low sodium vegetable broth.

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another view of the soup.  

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i grated parmesean cheese over the top after the photo.  the soup was a bit spicy...as i used my flavored olive oil to saute the veggies...and also added red pepper flakes and quite a bit of black pepper and grains of paradise to the pot while cooking.   

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herb focaccia bread.  

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i was so ready to start eating...and grey's anatomy was about to start...that i tore off a piece of the bread and dipped it into my soup before realizing i wanted a photo. 

the recipe makes 8 to 10 services...and because we have other plans for dinner for the next few nights...i stashed individual-sized servings in the freezer for those days when i really don't feel like cooking...but don't want take out. 

easy breezy and colorful too...

 

saturday...i discovered some new pre-packaged microwavable veggies at trader joes.  there was brussel sprouts...and a mixture of broccoli and cauliflower.  i bought one of each.  

today...i marinated (olive oil, preserved lemons, garlic, grains of paradise, kosher salt, rosemary) and roasted some drumsticks...made a pot of jasmine rice...and cooked both packages of veggies.  they were easy and delicious!  

how easy?  microwave 2-1/2 to 3 minutes...let stand 1 minute.  shake the container slightly...and serve.  that's it.  no venting.  no pouring into another container.  just remove it from the refrigerator...and put it in the microwave.  open...season (if desired) and serve.  it doesn't get much easier than that!  

now...i gotta go make some tortilla chips for our cinco de mayo potluck tomorrow.  adios!