Lovely Lentil & Sweet Potato Soup

This is a wonderfully easy, fragrant, and nutritious variation on the classic lentil soup. Seeing as how I hadn't eaten solid food in almost 12 days when I made this soup, I was really excited to eat something hot, simple, and flavorful--and this delivered big time. After completing a 10 day Master Cleanse followed by a post-cleanse day of fresh squeezed OJ and grapefruit, then post-cleanse day 2 of OJ and 1/4 of a veggie sandwich for lunch, I assembled a variety of organic veggies and spices and got cooking. All measurements are approximate and improvised, natch.

Lovely Lentil & Sweet Potato Soup
1 medium sweet potato
2 cloves garlic
4 stalks celery
10-15 baby carrots
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 yellow onion
1 c. red lentils
salt and pepper to taste
approx 1 c. Magic Green Infusion (see recipe below)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Scrub sweet potato with hands or veggie brush, then rub with a light coating of olive oil. Cut off the tops of the garlic cloves and rub with oil as well. Bake potato and garlic on foil-covered sheet for about 45 minutes. I suggest a nap while you wait :)
2. Let potato and garlic cool. Dice all veggies. Make Magic Green Infusion.
3. Put small bit of olive oil in a large soup pot and add medium heat. Add onion and celery, stirring occasionally for about five minutes.
4. Add tomatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes and (peeled) roasted garlic cloves, and cover with about six cups of spring water. Let simmer for about 15 minutes.
5. Remove sweet potato chunks with a slotted spoon, and puree with a bit of the broth.
6. Return sweet potato puree to the pot, add Magic Green Infusion and lentils and let simmer (NEVER BOIL!) for about 40 minutes.
7. YUM!


Magic Green Infusion
approx 2 cups flat parsley
10-20 whole cloves garlic
approx 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
approx 4 Tbsp. olive oil
ground black pepper to taste
ground sea salt to taste
dried italian seasoning blend to taste (thyme, rosemary, basil, etc.)
1 cup water or broth

Blend all ingredients until smooth and bright green. Stir in to any soup while cooking--it adds a ton of flavor, nutrition and color.