Mushroom Lentil Soup (crock Pot)

Total Time: 8 hrs 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 8 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons dried wild mushrooms
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 stalks celery, diced
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 (28 ounce) can tomatoes, chopped
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cups lentils
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• pepper
• salt
• 1/2 cup chives or 1/2 cup parsley, chopped

Recipe

• 1 in a heatproof measuring cup or bowl combine hot water and dried mushrooms and let stand for 30 minutes or so, strain but reserve liquid. pat dry and chop. set aside.
• 2 in a skillet over medium heat, heat oil and then add onion, celery and carrots, cook stirring until softenened (5-10 minutes). stir in chili powder and mushrooms and cook another minute or so.
• 3 stir in tomatoes (with juice) and bring to a boil. transfer to crock pot.
• 4 add vegetable broth, reserved mushroom liquid and lentils. cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours (or high for 4-5 hours) or until vegetables are tender.
• 5 stir in lemon juice, salt and pepper.
• 6 spoon into bowls and garnish with chives or parsley (we used chives -- yum!).