Slow Cooker Lentil Soup

Ingredients

• 2 medium uncooked carrot(s), peeled, cut into large chunks
• 2 rib(s) (medium) uncooked celery, cut into large chunks
• 1 medium uncooked onion(s), cut into large chunks
• 2 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), minced
• 2 cup(s) dry lentils, picked over
• 3 leaf/leaves bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme, crushed
• 1/2 tsp table salt, or to taste
• 1/4 tsp black pepper, or to taste
• 8 cup(s) canned chicken broth
• 4 oz uncooked Canadian bacon, diced (4 or 5 slices)

Instructions

1. Place ingredients in a 4- to 5-quart slow cooker in the following order: carrots, celery, onion, garlic, lentils, bay leaves, thyme, salt, pepper and broth.
2. Cover slow cooker; cook on low setting for 6 hours. Uncover, stir in bacon and heat for 30 minutes more; remove bay leaves.

Notes

Yields about 1 1/2 cups per serving.

To thicken soup, remove 1 cup of cooked lentils and puree in food processor; stir back into soup.

For a lighter flavor, replace 4 cups of chicken broth with 4 cups of water.

To make this vegetarian, substitute a cup of sliced shiitake mushroom caps for the Canadian bacon and use vegetable broth (could affect PointsPlus values).

For additional flavor, top each serving with a splash of white wine vinegar.