Sue's Lentil Soup

Ingredients

• 1 cup carrot
• chopped
• 1 cup celery
• chopped
• 1 cup red onion
• chopped
• 3 -4 garlic cloves
• minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 medium potatoes
• peeled and chopped
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 16 ounces lentils
• rinsed
• 64 ounces water
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• dried
• 1 teaspoon basil
• dried
• 1 teaspoon parsley
• dried
• 2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley
• Fresh
• Chopped
• salt
• pepper

Instructions

1. Saute carrots, onion, celery, and garlic in olive oil until onions are beginning to appear transluscent.
2. Add crushed tomatoes and cook 1 minute more.
3. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Move to soup pot (or slow cooker).
5. Add water, potatoes, lentils, tomato paste, and dried herbs.
6. For stove top, bring heat to medium-high and bring mixture to a boil.
7. Once mixture has boiled, reduce heat to low and simmer for at least 40 minutes, or until potatoes and lentils are cooked thru.
8. Season with Salt and pepper if needed.
9. For slow cooker, set crock pot on low for 7-9 hours.
10. Just before serving, add fresh parsley and sprinkle with parmesean cheese.