Crock Pot Lentil Soup (Vegetarian) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 celery ribs, sliced (on the diagonal is pretty)
2 tablespoons minced garlic cloves (or 3 cloves, finely chopped)
2 (1 lb) bags dried lentils, rinsed and sorted
2 lbs frozen vegetables (I like the broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot blend)
4 cups broth (I prefer vegetable)
2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)

Preparation

Heat oil in non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and celery; cook until crisp-tender (about 3-5 minutes). Add garlic and saute, being careful not to burn.
Combine this with remaining ingredients in a large Crock-Pot. Cook on Low 4 hours or on High 2 hours, or until lentils are tender.
Garnish with shredded mozzarella cheese and finely chopped roasted red peppers. You could also serve over or stir in your favorite pasta or rice.
NOTE: For more crisp-tender texture, add the frozen veggies during last 30-60 minutes of cooking time. My kids don't like the taste of celery, so I chop it very finely so that it \"disappears\" in the soup.
For Vegetarian you must use Vegetable Broth.