Marilyn's Lentil and Sausage Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of dry lentils
• 8 cups of beef broth
• 1 medium yellow onion, coarsely chopped
• 4 carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped
• 4 celery stalks, coarsely chopped
• 1 can of chopped tomatoes
• 1 package of sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
• Olive oil
• Salt, pepper, and spices to taste

Directions:

Sauté onions until soft in olive oil, and then add carrots and celery.  Add lentils, broth, and tomatoes, and bring to a boil.  Reduce to a simmer and add any desired spices, salt, and pepper.

While soup is simmering, cook the sausage according to package instructions, breaking it apart links.  Once it’s cooked through, drain any excess oil and add to soup.

Simmer until lentils are soft.