Tasty, cheap, and filling

My mother's lentil soup: don't eat it a couple days before you have a date or interview. Like all legumes, lentils cause really bad gas, and adding garlic to it just makes it all the more...pungent.

This is a very versatile dish. You can add pretty much any vegetable, and/or spice and/or meat to it that you want. It's high in fiber, iron, and protein, low in calories (even with the bacon) and cost.

1 c. lentils
1/3 c long grain brown rice
1 t minced garlic
EITHER 3 strips bacon (uncooked) OR 1-2 T EVOO*

Sort** and rinse lentils. Add to saucepan. Add rest of ingredients. Heat over high until boiling, then turn down to medium-high for an hour or so, or until the rice is tender. Salt to taste.

If you like your food spicy, add a good, solid pinch of crushed red pepper flakes at the start. You can also add Italian seasoning to this pretty easily. Another good add-in if you want a lot of flavor without a lot of trouble is about a cup of diced ham (can purchase in 16 oz packages, pre-diced), and an envelope of dry onion soup mix.

*Extra Virgin Olive Oil
**Pick out and throw away any black ones.