© 2018 MarcaRelli
Today is my mom’s __ __ th* birthday. So we here in the Stew decided to celebrate the occasion by sharing a recipe from her rolodex.
Mom is a depression era baby. Her given name is Jeannette but almost everyone calls her “Honey” – a nickname she was given when she was a wee one and it’s stuck almost all those __ __ years. Like many from her generation, mom has a healthy respect for food. She does not like to waste anything and she has no problem with leftovers. Mom learned to cook like most of us do: watching her mom, gathering recipes from cookbooks and magazines and, occasionally, just making stuff up from an idea.
This recipe made an appearance at our family dinner table quite often when I was growing up. To be honest, I was never a fan of lentil soup. But when you put those smoky hot dogs in there, everything changes. I gobbled up many a bowl as a kid and it fueled me well for the next round of touch football or flashlight tag out in the street – back in the day when kids played outside rather than plopped in front of a computer screen.
Inexpensive, easy to make, filling, and kid-friendly, Mom’s lentil soup is the perfect addition to the povertystew cookbook. Thanks Mom – and Happy Birthday!!
Need This
1 large carrot – diced
2 celery ribs – diced
4 cloves of garlic – chopped
1 – 16 ounce bag of dried lentils
1 – 8 count package of hot dogs
Olive oil
Salt
Ground black pepper
Do This
Hiss a little non-stick cooking spray onto a large fry pan then put a medium heat under it. Fry the hot dogs until browned all around.
Let the hot dogs cool a little, then slice them up into 1/4 inch disks and set aside.
Pour a glug of olive oil into a large sauce pot and put a medium heat under it.
Throw in the diced carrots, celery and chopped garlic. Fry, stirring frequently until the veg starts to soften and the garlic starts to brown.
Add 8 cups of cold water to the pot.
Using a strainer, rinse the dried lentils under clean cold water then add them to the pot with the water.
Bring the lentils and veg to a gentle boil. Add the sliced hot dogs to the pot, reduce the heat, cover, and let simmer for 20 minutes to 1/2 hour, stirring occasionally, until the soup thickens and the lentils are tender. Add salt and pepper to taste near the end of the cooking time.
Serve hot with a hunk of good crusty bread.
Serves 6. My cost approx. $ 4.72 total – about 79 cents per serving.
*My momma didn’t raise no fool. GMN