Tomato Lentil Soup

Winter is such great soup weather. If I ever master growing tomatoes, then I'll be making this in the summer as well. I've always been a tomato soup fan, especially with a toasted or grilled cheese sandwich you can dunk! As a kid, I would crush as many Tollhouse Crackers as my mom would let me into the Campbell's Tomato Soup. Well, this is a homemade-from-scratch tomato soup. I decided to add the Lentils since they are an excellent source of fiber and protein! Seriously, anymonkeycan cook this delicious soup!

1 Yellow Onion, chopped
4-6 Garlic Cloves, minced
1-2 T of Olive Oil or Coconut Oil etc

6 c Tomatoes, diced (2-28 oz cans of diced tomatoes or about 12 regular sized fresh tomatoes
2 c Chicken Broth (use Vegetable to make this Vegetarian)
1 c Red Lentils, rinsed and pick over if needed

1-2 T Kosher Salt (to taste)
1-2 T Fresh Basil, chopped (can try other herbs)
Black Pepper (to taste)
1/2 c Half and Half (optional to make this a creamy soup)

1. Heat the Oil on Medium High heat & saute the Onion & Garlic until tender (about 8-10 min)
2. Add Tomatoes, Broth, & Lentils and cook over Medium heat for about 30 min.
3. Add Half & Half, as well as Salt, Pepper, & Basil (to taste)
4. Remove from heat and Puree until smooth with an Immersion Blender. You can transfer in batches to a blender as well.
5. Serve with crackers or bread or a grilled cheese sandwich.
And there you go! Anymonkeycan make homemade tomato soup from scratch!