Red Lentil soup

This was really wonderful. It is always great to have warm soup when there is just a tad of a chill in the air. Jt made home-aide bread to go with - he is great at making bread and I am not. He made a honey wheat. It was very good. 

Here is the recipe:

1 onion, chopped

1/4 cup olive oil

2 carrots, diced

2 stalks of celery, chopped (I used more)

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 bay leaf

1 tsp. dried basil

1 - 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes

2 cups of red lentils

4 cups of vegetable broth

4 cups of water

1/2 cup spinach, rinsed and thinly sliced

2 tbsp. vinegar

2 cups of ham - cut up. 

In a large soup pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions, carrots and celery. Cook and stir until onion is tender. 

Stir in garlic, bay leaf, oregano and basil; cook for 2 minutes. 

Stir in lentils and add water, broth, tomatoes and ham. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for at least 1 hour. When ready to serve, stir in spinach and cook until it wilts. Stir in vinegar and season with salt and pepper if desire.