Lentil Soup with Frankfurters

Ingredients

• 1 cup lentils, dried quick-cooking
• 6 cups water
• 2 slices bacon, diced
• 1 leek or green onion, finely chopped
• 1 large carrot, finely chopped
• 1 stalk celery, stalk, finely chopped
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons unbleached flour
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 4 frankfurters, thickly sliced
• 1 tablespoon catsup, tomato
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

1. 1

   Wash the lentils thoroughly.

2. 2

   In a 2 1/2-quart saucepan bring 6 cups of water to a boil.

3. 3

   Add the lentils, bacon, leek or green onion, carrot and celery.

4. 4

   Simmer, partially covered, for 30 to 40 minutes.

5. 5

   Meanwhile in a frypan, saute chopped onion in vegetable oil until soft.

6. 6

   Sprinkle flour over onion, and stir.

7. 7

   Lower heat, stir constantly, and cook until the flour turns a light brown.

8. 8

   DO NOT burn flour.

9. 9

   Stir in 1/2 cup of hot lentil soup into the browned flour; beat with a wire whisk until well-blended.

10. 10

    Beat in vinegar.

11. 11

    Add contents of frypan to lentil pan and stir together.

12. 12

    Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until lentils are soft.

13. 13

    Add the frankfurters and catsup.

14. 14

    Cook to heat frankfurters through.

15. 15

    Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.