[Creative Commons photo by Nick Mote]

The cold weather has me craving soup. This is a really easy crock pot soup to throw together on the cheap. If there are veggies in your cupboard that are getting ready to turn, you can toss them right in and even substiute them for other veggies in the recipe. Don’t be shy!

Soup

• 4 cups “chicken” broth (veggie broth would work just as well)
• 1 1/2c cauliflower, in florets
• 1/3c dry lentils
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 potato, diced
• 1 tomato, in wedges
• 1T italian seasoning
• 4 cloves minced garlic
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2T olive oil

Put everything in a crock pot and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours, until the lentils are just right. Serve with pita croutons on the side!

Pita Croutons

• 1 pita round per person
• olive oil
• 1 clove garlic per pita round
• 1 t italian seasoning per round
• 2T nutritional yeast per round
• salt and pepper, to taste

Tear the pita into pieces and fry it in the oil, tossing with the spices and yeast to coat. Fry until brown and crispy!