Lentil Soup

Lentil Soup
How something that looks so unappetizing can be so delicious, I don't know, but this soup is it!

2 cups lentils (or one package)

1/2 cup chopped onions

1 cup chopped celery (2 stalks)

1/2 cup chopped carrots (2 carrots)

2 cloves of garlic

2-3 bay leafs

2 oz chopped ham or ham bone, optional

1 can chicken broth and 32 oz. water or 1 tsp. bouillon and 6-8 cups water.

salt and pepper to taste

Sort lentils and remove anything that doesn't belong, then rinse using a strainer. Put all ingredients in large soup pan. Cover and simmer until lentils are tender up to 1-2 hours. Remove bay leaf before serving. 

Mom's notes: any type of lentil works well - orange, traditional brown, or yellow. Add more liquid for this to be more soup-like. I seldom use ham in this soup. This will make a lot of soup.