the regular

So here's a recipe that i make quite regularly given its ease, availability of ingredients, and deliciousness. Feel free to add more or less of any ingredient, but whatever you do, make sure that sweet potato makes it in there. it, is, good.

Lentil Soup

2 TBS Olive Oil
2 Cups finely diced onions
3 Large garlic cloves, minced
3 TBS Tomato paste
½ Cup carrot (i think i put in 2 large carrots, definitely more than 1/2 a cup)
1 Cup fresh mint/peppermint, chopped
Salt and Pepper
2 Bay leaves
1 ½ cups green or brown lentils
¼ cup red cooking wine
2 medium sized sweet potatoes, cubed

Sort and rinse lentils. Heat oil in a soup pot over high heat. Add onion and sauté until it begins to color around the edges, 5-7 minutes. Work the tomato paste into the onion, then add the garlic, salt, carrot, bay leaves, mint, sweet potatoes, and cook for 3 minutes. Add Lentils, 2 quarts water, and ½ tsp salt and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the lentils are tender, 25-35 minutes. Stir in red cooking wine. Add more salt, pepper, whatever other seasonings you like. The longer the soup sits before serving, the more flavor it will have.