lentil soup

Ingredients

• 4 cups onions, chopped (about 2 large)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 1/2 cups celery, chopped (about 5 ribs)
• 1 1/2 cups carrots, grated (2 - 3 carrots)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt (optional)
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon marjoram, dried
• 2-28 oz. cans whole plum tomatoes, drain and reserve 2 cups juice**
• 3 1/2 cups water
• 5 cups chicken broth (see note)
• 2 - bay leaves
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 2 cups dry lentils, picked over and rinsed
• ** can use 4 14.5 oz. cans of petite diced tomatoes, undrained. amount of liquid is exactly right for the recipe.