Slow Cooker #2- Winter Soup

I was inspired to make this soup from a post on The Kitchen Sink Recipes.  It looked comforting and surprisingly colorful for a winter vegetable soup.  It also seemed like a great dish for me to use some ham I had in the freezer.  It was really good.  It was warm and filling but not heavy at all.  It also uses sweet potatoes which I love, love!

Winter Soup

inspired by Real Simple

1 bunch of kale, chopped

3 large leeks, washed and chopped

2 sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped

1/2 cup of red lentils

1 small bundle of thyme

2 bay leaves

1 tsp of salt

1 tsp of fresh ground back pepper

1 28oz can of diced tomatoes

2 cups of cooked ham, diced

2 TBS of olive oil

water

Parmesan cheese, for garnish

Combine ingredients in large slow cooker.  The thyme and bay leaves should be bundled together in twine or cheesecloth for easy removal.  Cover the contents with water.  Cook for 8 hours.  Garnish with grated Parmesan.  Enjoy!