Hearty (& Healthy!) Lentil Soup

Lentils are a legume I was not introduced to until I was almost 18, and they're something I've been trying to familiarize myself with. THE PROS: They cook in less time than many beans, and they go great with so many vegetables and meats!

This recipe is based on the one in Mireille Guiliano's fantastic (& realistic!!) book, "French Women Don't Get Fat" -- it's not a diet book, it's a practical guide to eating & living "French" with simple, delicious recipes and French wisdom sprinkled in.
http://mireilleguiliano.com/

***DON'T ADD SALT until the end, because the lentils will disintegrate!

This is a great soup for vegetarians, as well, if you leave out the sausage.

HEARTY & HEALTHY LENTIL SOUP

=Ingredients=
1/2 lb lentils (if you're not sure about lentils, find a store with a "bulk foods" section and get just 1 lb)
2-3 celery stalks, diced
2 carrots, diced (cut in half, cut halves in half lengthwise, then chop widthwise)
EITHER 1 onion, chopped
OR 1 leek, chopped (trim off roots & top inch of greens, YES, use the greens!)
freshly grated pepper
1/2-1 tsp dried thyme

OPTIONAL: 1 can Strasbourg sausages (or 2 fancy hot dog-type sausages that won't break apart when chopped)

=Instructions=
1. A note on preparation: After cutting up the leeks, place in a large bowl/your sink with water to cover and WASH WELL!!! Swish, swish, put in a colander and rinse, turn, rinse! Leeks are infamous for being sandy, so give them a soak and a rinse!
2. Sautee the onion/leek in 1 Tb oil + 1/2 Tb butter until soft and the smell mellows.
3. Add carrots and celery and sautee another few minutes.
4. Sprinkle on thyme and grate on pepper.
5. Add boiling water to within 1" of the rim. Add lentils and bring to boil, then reduce to a simmer.
6. Simmer covered with a vent for a while, around 2 hours. Taste and adjust seasoning to preference.
7. Slice the sausages and drop in carefully. Allow to heat through and ladle into soup bowls.

GARNISH: Add some chopped parsley right before serving to get maximum fresh flavor and add a cheerful green hint!

This is the most basic recipe, but you could add all sorts of other ingredients, like chopped potato, curry powder, or caraway seeds. Experiment with remixes!