Val's Yummy Soup

Just home from Val's - another great day sewing!
We worked on our "tinner" for the month - lots of tiny 1 1/2 inch pieces making leaves and blue sky blocks!
Val made soup yesterday and served it tonight!  Yummy!

Val's Wonderful Soup

1 cup red lentils (sort and rinse before adding)
2 - 14.5 oz cans chicken broth
1 - 18 oz can pasta sauce (use a inexpensive one you like)
3 medium carrots, diced
3 celery stalks, diced
3 small zucchinis, diced
1/4 cup diced onion (Val used some fennel as well)
2 cloves garlic, minced (Val didn't use this)
2 cups cabbage, shredded
Basil
Salt & Pepper to taste

Saute the onion in a titch of oil, add garlic and continue cooking 1 minute.
Add all remaining ingredients, except seasonings, bring to a boil, then simmer 60ish minutes with the lid on.
Add basil during last 15 minutes of simmer time.
Emulsify as much of the soup as you like.
We all love it with a few veggies still looking around.
Serve with a dollop of cream cheese if you want.

I should also say that Val will not be held down to exact measurements etc. so if it seems to thin or thick adjust liquids accordingly!