| I resist using the word healthy in my cooking. It will | | | | Tomato and Lentil Soup |
| immediately put my family off. Instead I sneak healthy | | | | - 1 onion, peeled and roughly chopped |
| ingredients into recipes when they are not looking. | | | | - 2 carrot, peeled and roughly chopped |
| This soup is an example of one of those recipes that | | | | - 2 celery sticks, peeled and roughly chopped |
| is both delicious and healthy. A large bowl of it will | | | | - 2 garlic cloves, peeled and roughly chopped |
| provide at least 3 portions of the vegetables you need | | | | - 1tbs olive oil |
| each day. | | | | - 4 tsp Marigold Bouillon powder |
| If you start the day with a smoothie ( at least 2 | | | | - 100g split red lentils |
| portions of fruit) and have this soup for lunch you can | | | | - 1 tin chopped tomatoes |
| feel very virtuous about having achieved your target. | | | | - 1 litre boiling water |
| Any other fruit and veg you eat will be a bonus. | | | | - 1tbs of sundried tomato paste |
| Do not worry too much if you are missing an | | | | Put the lentils into a 1 litre measuring jug, add the stock |
| ingredient. This is a great soup for using up those odd | | | | powder and the boiling water. Leave to soak for 20 |
| vegetables lurking in the bottom of the fridge - so just | | | | minutes. |
| substitute or leave out. | | | | Heat the olive oil over a gentle heat and add the |
| In the summer it tastes great with fresh tomatoes. If | | | | chopped vegetables. Saute over a medium heat for |
| you want to spice it up, add a tablespoon of curry | | | | about 15 minutes until the vegetables are soft but not |
| powder or paste to the heated oil and cook for a | | | | browned. |
| minute before adding the vegetables. Or to make it | | | | Add the lentils and stock, the tin of chopped tomatoes |
| lentil and bacon soup, miss out the olive oil, dry fry 4 | | | | and the tomato paste. |
| rashers of streaky or back bacon until it releases its oil, | | | | Simmer for 45 minutes then whizz smooth with a |
| then add the veggies. | | | | handheld blender. |