Lentil Soup with Pork or Ham bone

 This could be made vegan by omitting the pork and using vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.

Dice 3 ribs of celery, 2 large carrots, and half an onion.  In a large soup pot,  saute in canola oil until soft.  Rinse 1 package of green lentils.  Add to soup pot along with 8 cups of chicken or vegetable stock.  Add 1 cup diced cooked pork or ham bone with meat on it.  Add 1 tablespoon garlic granules or fresh minced garlic.  Add 1 tsp cayenne.  Salt and pepper to taste.  I like lots of black pepper.  Bring to boil, reduce to simmer.  Simmer for an hour until lentils and veggies are mushy.  Remove ham bone and cut up any ham to add back to pot after blending the soup.  You need to blend half of the soup and add back into pot.  This gives the soup a creamy texture without adding dairy.  You can use an immersion blender or a regular blender.  If using a regular blender just blend a bit at a time so the hot soup doesn't explode out of the top of the blender.  Keep it chunky.