Blue Mountain Lentil and Potato Soup

Cooking Time
50 minutes

Serving Size
10 cups

Kettle Size
4 quarts

Ingredients

Brewers lentils, dehydrated potatoes, red chief lentils, dehydrated celery, dehydrated carrots, dehydrated bell peppers, herbs and spices.

Great Ideas for Dressing up your Blue Mountain Lentil & Potato Soup

Add

Your favorite vegetables
Fresh chopped onion or cabbage
Hamburger
Kielbasa
G ground turkey
Italian stewed tomatoes

For a creamier soup, add one 15-oz. can of evaporated mil and reduce water by two cups.

Vegetarian

You can prepare this soup without meat. Use 15 oz. of vegetable broth and reduce water in the recipe by two cups. If desired, add a meat substitute.

Tid Bits of History - Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains, given this name because of the blue haze that surrounds them, is located in northeast Oregon and southeast Washington and is known for its rugged, tough terrain.

In 1836 the Whitmans came west to establish a Protestant mission among the Cayuse Indians near present day Walla Walla. Their guide, John McLeod, a fur trader for the Hudson Bay Company, selected the most direct route possible, suitable only for horse and foot traffic. The Whitmans discovered the beauty and hardships of these mountains.

An excerpt from Narcissa's diary for August 29, 1836 contained this entry:

"I frequently met old acquaintances, in the trees and flowers, and was not a little delighted. Indeed I do not know as I was ever so much affected with any scenery in my life... But this scene was of short duratlon...before noon we began to descend one of the most terrible mountains for steepness and length I have yet seen. It was like winding stairs in its descent and in some places almost perpendicular. We had no sooner gained the foot of this mountain, when another more steep and dreadful was before us."

The most frequently used trail over the Blue Mountains became known as the Old Oregon Trail. This trail did not follow the same route as the Whitman's journey, which was obviously too steep and difficult for wagons. In 1843 Marcus Whitman led the first emigrant's wagon train of 1,000 people from Fort Hall (near present day Pocatello, Idaho) to the Whitman mission.

If you would like to visit the route of Whitman's journey and the beaunty of the Blue Mountains, take Interstate 84 to exit #243 (Mt. Emily and Summit Road) just north of La Grande, Oregon. Road 3109 is 9 miles east on road 31. Enjoy your journey!

A Bit of Lentil History

Some of the earliest archaeological dating of the existence of lentils goes back 15,000 years to caves discovered in Greece. Lentils have been an important staple over the centuries and were mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 25:30-34. In this Bible story Esau gave up his birthright for a bowl of lentils.

Legume Hints & Nutrition

The USDA recommends that adults eat three cups of beans or legumes per week for the maximum health benefit. Legumes are naturally low in total fat, contain no saturated fat or cholesterol, and are an excellent source of protein, calcium, iron, folic acid, and potassium. Beans should always be sorted, cleaned and washed to remove any small rocks, etc.