Fall calls for savory, warm soup
By far, fall is my favorite season. After the hot days and hustle and bustle of summer, it’s nice to slow down the pace, enjoy the crisp cool air, beautiful colored foliage, layered clothing, and of course, warm comfort food.
Saturday marked the first day of fall. After a day of cleaning and organizing my house, for dinner I decided to welcome fall with a timeless classic — lentil soup. Nothing like a warm bowl of soup on a crisp fall evening. I love the nutty taste and firm texture of lentils. This soup is savory, hearty and oh so good for you. You can just feel it in your soul.
My recipe is SOUPer simple, delicious, and of course healthy. I invite you to try it — I think you will agree.
From the SOUP AND SALAD section of my NEW cookbook Shop, Cook, Eat: Outside of the Box.
Lentil Soup
A timeless classic.
PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES TOTAL TIME: 45 MINUTES SERVES 4
Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 leek, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, finely minced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 teaspoons thyme
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
2 quarts vegetable stock (page 36)
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 ¼ cups dried lentils
Directions
In a large stockpot on medium heat, sauté the leeks, and garlic with the olive oil, salt, pepper, and thyme for 20 minutes. Add the celery and carrots and sauté for 10 more minutes. Add the vegetable stock, tomato paste, and lentils. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer over low heat until the lentils are almost tender, about 30 minutes.
This soup is a great option for Meatless Monday. Serve with Artisan crusty bread and a spinach salad with your choice of vinaigrette or dressing.
Chrisetta Mosley
I am a product – and now a survivor – of childhood obesity. As a child, my family always told me that my extra weight was merely baby fat and I’d eventually grow out of it. I never did. Instead, my childhood is filled with memories of not being able to ride a bike, flattening its training wheels from being over the recommended weight, and avoiding P.E. classes by any means necessary. For years, I wore my fatness like a wounded soldier wears a Purple Heart - with pride. I owned the look. I dressed it up. I worked the room. There wasn't a skinny girl who intimidated me. I made sure my hair was laid just right. Nails polished. Outfits coordinated to the tee. Accessories to compliment every outfit. But everyone has a breaking point, and mine came in the spring of 2004 when I tipped the scale at nearly 400 pounds 388 to be exact. I was MISERABLE trapped inside of that body. I no longer wore my Purple Heart with pride. Rather, I was ashamed and frightened. Ashamed that I had allowed food to become my everything – frightened I would die because of it. Drastic times called for drastic measures... Today, I’m bound and determined to live a better, healthier, active lifestyle. I realize I’m no longer a passenger in my life, I’m the driver. I’m overcoming my inhibitions and I’m slowly but surely saying farewell to my old childhood nemesis, obesity. For once and for all, Farewell Fatso!