Lentils!

What? You don't know what lentils are? Well, they are that legume that you can buy by the truck load for a dollar at any Indian food store. True, lentils are not always first on the grocery list, but if you're looking for dinner on a budget it should be. Living on a college-student budget myself, I was looking for a way to entertain a group of friends without spending, or eating, too much dough. I remembered my grandmother's lentil soup. It is delicious by itself, with some elbow pasta, or a big slice of fresh Italian bread to sop up all its goodness.

Recipe:
3 celery stalks
2 large carrots
1 medium onion
4 garlic cloves
red crushed pepper
1 sprig of fresh thyme
1 sprig of fresh rosemary
11 cups of chicken broth
16 oz of lentils

First add some olive oil to a semi-hot pan. A friend of mine always adds a couple of anchovies first thing to the oil, not a must but I bet you'd like it. Then add the chopped veggies. Sweat them in the pot and then, using the veggies as a bed, throw in the garlic. Spice up your soup with some red crushed pepper, salt and pepper, also toss in some fresh herbs. Let the flavors marry over the heat for 10 minutes, then add the broth. The lentils will take about an hour at a simmer to soften up.

serves 6-8