I’ve always wanted to make an American style, smoky lentil or pea soup, the kind one orders on a cold day for a hearty and meat-flavored meal in a bowl.

My creation turned out to be just that, a bowl of goodness rich in flavors of smoke, celery and bay, with a bit of meat here and there. This is the kind of soup you’ll mop the bowl clean with some bread, so consider yourself warned. Recipe follows. Continue reading →