Sausage and Lentil Soup

Picture to come...I have got to find the dang cord to the camera!


Yes!! I actually managed to cook something! Amazing isn't it?
Truthfully I've made this soup once before. And typically it didn't turn out exacttly the same.
Not really surprising because I have a habit of not exactly following the recipe... exactly.....I try..really...but somehow it never works out.
But in both cases, the soup was good. Today's soup needed a little adjusting. I like more "soupiness" and less "stew" so I added more broth and more spices.
I also like my food spicy. The recipe below is a combination of 2 different recipes but is a basic recipe.
(Today soup, Tomorrow..???? Who knows??!!)


Sausage and Lentil Soup
Ingredients
1 lb Italian sausage (You can also use Italian turkey sausage)
(I used 1/2 sweet italian sausage and 1/2 chirizo_just cause it was there. But I think spicy sausage is better.)

1 large onion, chopped
6 cups chicken broth (I used about 2 cups more)

2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained (I used 4 cans and with spices)
2-3 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon salt (oh please! as if that was enough)
2 cups dry lentils
1 bay leaf
black pepper
basil
oregano
parsley
thyme
garlic powder (always!)
(basically I use whichever spices appeal to me at the time)

Directions
1)Brown sausage; drain off fat (ummm..sometimes I drain but a little fat adds flavor...that's my story and I'm sticking to it!).
2)In a large pot combine all ingredients bring to boil.
3)Reduce heat,cover.
4)Simmer for about 1 hour or until lentils are tender. I let mine cook at least 2 hours before trying it.
Add water if necessary (I did), for desired consistency.

What's it all about?

As the title says, Soooo many recipes but when do you find the time to make them all?
Well, when do I found the time to make even one of them?

I like to cook. I looooove to bake!
But it seems like I rarely have the time and/or the inclination to do any cooking or baking.
Sadly, I often eat out or make something really pathetically simple.
I am extremely fond of oodles of noodles (it is a real food) and soup.

And yet...I am always looking up recipes or just stumbling across recipes that I want to try.
I love making soup. And am always planning to try a new recipe (in the slower cooker which is one of the most fabulous inventions ever, right up there with the microwave). Most often I end up making a version of refrigerator soup.
(Do others know about this?)

Anyhoo, what is the point of this blog???
I have decided that at least once a month I will try out a recipe and then blog about it. It's my way of forcing myself to cook.
Because I really hate blogs with no entries!!!

So, here's wishing myself Luck!
I am determined to do this....hmmm...which recipe shall I try first???