Soup of the Day: Lentil & Butternut Squash

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Ingredients:
* 2 shallots or small red onions, chopped
* 1 small head of garlic, individual cloves peeled & minced
* 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
* 1 butternut squash, chopped
* 2c. lentils (for crock pot, use split lentils)

* Mild-flavored cooking oil
* Cheap mirin (rice cooking wine)
* Salt & Pepper to taste (I didn't use any)

Instructions:
* Brown onion, garlic, & bell pepper in oil in the bottom of the pot, until caramelized.
* Brown squash in the bottom of the pot, in batches if necessary to cook quickly. Remove from heat. (For crock pot, puree everything but lentils in a food processor at this step.)
* Toss about 1/2c. mirin into the pot, and heat gently to deglaze.
* Return all cooked ingredients to pot, add water and lentils, and let boil until the lentils are thoroughly cooked. Puree in food processor.
* Add salt & pepper to taste. Serve hot with bread.


The result is hearty, mildly sweet, and ever so slightly smoky.