Made lentil sausage soup for the first time, recipe makes 4 quarts, use a large enough pot. Original calls for french green lentils but the supermarket variety worked fine.

1 lb lentils, rinse and inspect for small rocks, put in a container, cover with boiling water, let sit 15 min, drain, set aside
6 peeled, quartered, diced carrots
8 stalks celery, rinse and slice 1/2"
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 yellow onions diced 1/2 "
2 quarts chicken stock, i prefer low salt
1 lb kielbasa, cut in half lengthwise and sliced 3/8"
Pepper to taste, kielbasa has plenty of salt
A couple slices crispy cooked bacon are optional, if you add it save the grease for step 1...

In a pot large enough to hold everything, add bacon grease and a few tablespoons olive oil, heat up, and saute the celery, onions, and carrots til the onions are clear. Dont let them turn brown.
Add your chicken broth, kielbasa, amd lentils. Bring to a boil skimming the top. Reduce heat and simmer for about 45 minutes til carrots are tender. Add tomato paste, stir in, simmer a while longer. Serve with french bread.

Makes a ton of soup. Bag and freeze it for later within a couple days, freezes very well...