Weekend Cookbook Challenge -Disappointment in Shades of Orange

This month's WCC challenge was "Food in Shades of Orange". I found a very interesting recipe from a new cookbook I had just picked up.

"All Stirred Up - Over 150 of the Best Recipes From the Women's Culinary Network". I have never heard of the Women's Culinary Network before, have you? I have marked several recipes to try in the future, but for this day I chose Curried Lentil Soup by Kim Rabe. I chose it for 3 reasons:
1. I have never cooked with lentils before.
2. I like curry.
3. It sounded like it might come out an orangy color.

I'm not going to say too much about this soup - it just wasn't for me. While the taste was alright, it wasn't anything to get excited about. Also, it separated into 2 layers - a watery layer and a thicker orange layer. Very strange. Hey, at least it was orange.

Curried Lentil Soup
by Kim Rabe

2 tb olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tb curry powder
1 tb tomato paste
5 cups vegetable stock
5 cups water
2 cups red lentils
2 bay leaves
salt and pepper

In an large saucepot, heat oil over medium heat and saute onions, celery, carrot and garlic for 5 minutes, until onion is softened. Stir in the curry powder and cook for one minute. Add all the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, until lentils are softened and creamy. Discard bay leaves before serving.

Makes 6 servings.