Hearty Tomato Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/4 cup dried lentils, rinsed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 stalk celery, finely chopped
14 1/2 ounces diced tomatoes
2 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup pasta, star shaped
salt and pepper

Preparation

Cook lentils per pkg directions until just tender. Drain and set aside.
Heat oil in a large saucepan over med heat, add onion and saute til translucent.
Add carrots and celery and cook a few minutes more.
Add tomatoes, lentils, stock, and bay leaf.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to med low and simmer 25-30 mins or until lentils and carrots are tender and the soup has thickened a little. Remove the bay leaf.
If you like your soup smooth, now would be the time to zip through it with an immersion blender, or continue to next step if you like it chunky.
Add pasta and bring back to a simmer. Simmer about 10 mins stirring frequently to avoid scorching.
Remove from heat, season to taste and enjoy.