French Lentil Rice Soup - crock pot

6 cups chicken or vegetable broth (I use water plus sale/spice)
1 cup lentils, sorted and rinsed
2 medium carrots, finely diced
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 celery stalks, finely diced
3 tablespoons uncooked white rice (I use brown, and a little more)
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 tsp. herbes de Provence or thyme (I used whatever I had)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup heavy cream or sour cream (optional)
1/4 cup chopped parsley (optional)

Stir together broth, lentils, carrots, onion, celery, rice, garlic, herbs, salt and pepper in slow cooker. Cover and cook onlow for 8 hours or high for 4 to 5 hours.

Remove 1 1/2 cups soup and puree in a food processor or blender until smooth, return it to slow cooker. (I forgot to do this.) If desired, garnish with cream and parsley (it's delicious either way).

This recipe says that it makes four servings but we got a lot more. Bring on healthy, delicious, crock pot meals!!!