{meatless monday} — overnight lentil soup

happy monday, ya’ll!

sorry for my absence – i missed you.  i was away last weekend in the mountains, and i didn’t get the chance to blog remotely on monday or tuesday and by the time mid-week rolled around i just decided to take the rest of the week off from blogging.  with the holidays rapidly approaching, my “day job” will get more demanding of my time and energy, and thus i will appreciate the “calm before the storm,” if you will.

so, we’re back on track and here is today’s meatless monday recipe. it’s all about soup in the audrey michelle household.  soup is all the things i look for in a meal : simple, healthy, easy, filling, and delicious. cost-effective, too!

see, i just bought a car.  i think i mentioned that?  well, a car means a car payment for me and that means reconfiguring my budget.  i typically just splurge on food – it’s just my thing, i don’t shop, i don’t go out, i don’t eat out – my “treat” is food, always has been.  and it will continue to be that way, i just have to be a little more aware and plan ahead.  i plan on posting a blog about batch cooking, which ultimately saves time and money… just need to allot some time to yourself to plan ahead and just do it!

soup is a great make-ahead meal that keeps well in the fridge and is friendly with the wallet. so, on with the recipe!

it’s that time of year – time to bust out the crockpot and make some delicious soups to eat for days… soup is filling and good for the soul.  you can make so many combinations and when the weather is chilly and there’s a bite in the air after the sun is down at 5 o’clock {BS!}, nothing comforts quite like a warm bowl of hearty and healing broth-based soup… and i like to sip soup… it’s just, i don’t know it’s fun – right?!  i’m so english sometimes.

between my vitamix and my crockpot, i don’t know that i need another kitchen appliance.

{i christened my vitamix last weekend, so stay tuned for that post!}

– 32 oz. veggie stock {i opt for stock because it’s richer and you can cut it with water if necessary}

– 2 small carrots

– 2 celery stalks

– 2 small onions {i chose cippolini because they are amazing}

– 2 cups lentils of choice {i mixed an autumn blend with green lentils}

rinse your legumes to rid them of any dust or debris

dice your carrots, celery, and onion {sometimes referred to as “mirepoix” which i love saying – or “aromatics”}

easiest recipe ever.  toss everything in your crockpot – stock, lentils, and mirepoix.  sprinkle in some S&P and any other spices you may want.  i stick with the basics, because i’m not as familiar or comfortable with spices as i’d like to be… it’s a goal of mine here at food and foto dot com 🙂

it’s funny how the celery floats – i googled why but got some bizarre answers… most of which claimed water content as the reason… whatever, it’s just interesting to me…

add in water as needed, maybe another cup or two. stir together and turn on the low setting on your crockpot.  this way, you can let it simmer ALL NIGHT LONG {i’d say a good 8 to 10 hours}…

and then when you wake up in the morning, the house will smell all delightful… and you’ll be actually looking forward to packing your lunch and/or coming home for dinner… and all the flavours will have happily blended together and created this wonderful dish for you to enjoy…

completely simple and easy… and GOOD! good for you, too.  nice and salty, and hearty and filling.

serve it with a dense seed-based bread for extra nutrition.  pair it with a salad for maximum fiber absorption.  lentils are a great source of lean protein, which keeps you feeling fuller longer.  a totally healthy vegan meal that satisfies the taste buds AND the belly.  and it will stay in the fridge for a good 5 days… but i have a feeling you’ll be finishing it sooner than that 🙂

Tags: crockpot meals, easy, food, healthy, high-fiber, lean protein, meatless monday, recipes, simple, soup, vegan, vegetarian