Soup for Supper

With Fall weather creeping around lately, I jumped at the chance to make a big pot of homemade soup. I've been dying to break out this beautiful baby...

And I knew exactly what I was going to make - a recipe that I bookmarked way back in March.

Yes, I still printed it off. There are just some things I prefer on paper, and a recipe is one of them.

This Coconut Red Lentil Soup was featured on 101 Cookbooks this past spring, just as soup season was coming to a close. I had most of the ingredients at home, and was happy to find the instructions straight forward. First of all, I gathered up everything I needed.

<yellow split peas, red lentils, coconut milk, cilantro, tomato paste, curry powder, fresh ginger, carrots, and green onions>

The split peas and lentils got a photo shoot all their own, dressed up in my new mason jars.

Be sure to pick through the split peas and lentils - you will oftentimes find small stones amongst them. I find this easiest to do by pouring them onto a large sheet pan.

Rinse!

I wish chopping produce could be my job. I love it so very much.

Oh, yeah, I forgot about the raisins apricots! I thought I had some golden raisins in my cupboard, but I was mistaken. I decided to used chopped dried apricots in their place. Seems to have worked!

Sauteing the green onions, ginger, and apricots smelled surprisingly amazing! I think it was the sweet + savory that did it.

Toasting curry powder - never done that before! I was a little worried because once it got warm, all I could smell was anise. I didn't want my soup to taste like licorice...but it all worked out ok.

The soup bubbled and thickened on the stove, perfuming the house with the warm scent of curry. I suppose this might not always be a good thing, but I was up for it.

Chopped green onions and cilantro would serve as flavorful garnishes.

Soon enough, it was time to eat!

I ended up topping my soup with a couple dollops of cool sour cream. It was so good!

I have already filed this recipe in my binder of "keepers." If you'd like to try it yourself, check out this recipe: Coconut Red Lentil Soup. Enjoy!