Lentil Soup

This soup is DELICIOUS! My husband's mom always makes Lentil Soup for New Year's; it's a tradition and it's supposed to bring you good financial success during the new year. Whether you believe stuff like that or not, this is a great soup to eat, so why not try it next New Year? I also like to make it around Easter.

10 cups water
1 lb lentils
8 bacon slices
2 cups chopped leek
1 cup chopped onion
½ cup chopped carrot
½ cup chopped red pepper
1 can v8 vegetable juice *or 16 oz tomato juice
2 cups chopped ham
4T oil
4 T flour
1 ½ can condensed chicken broth
2 t salt
4 T vinegar
2 bay leaves
1 t pepper
pinch of thyme

Put water and lentils in crockpot. Simmer for 3-4 hours.

Cut bacon into small pieces; sauté in large skillet until crisp. Add to bacon in skillet: leek, onion, carrot, pepper, and ham. Saute over low heat 5 minutes. Combine with lentils in crock pot. Add vegetable juice to crock pot.

Put oil in skillet, stir in flour until smooth, then gradually stir in broth. Add salt, vinegar, pepper, bay leaves, and thyme and bring to boiling point, stirring. Pour into lentils; simmer for 30 minutes.

*** You can make this on the stove, I just usually make it in the crock pot.

**** Also, this freezes well. Just defrost and heat on the stove or in a crock pot.