Lentil Soup With Tubetti And Bacon

• 1/4 pound bacon, slices cut crosswise into 1/2-inch strips
• 2 carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 onions, cut into 1-inch chunks
• 2 ribs celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced
• 6 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 pound lentils (about 2 1/3 cups)
• 1 1/2 quarts canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
• 3 cups water
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 cup canned tomatoes in thick puree, chopped
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon dried red-pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup tubetti or other small macaroni

1. In a large pot, cook the bacon over moderate heat until crisp. Remove. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat. Add the carrots, onions, celery, mushrooms, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the lentils, broth, water, rosemary, tomatoes, salt, red-pepper flakes, black pepper, and bacon. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the pasta and simmer until the lentils are tender and the pasta is done, 10 to 15 minutes longer.
3. Variations: Substitute an equal amount of pancetta for the bacon.: Use thyme instead of rosemary.: Add shredded spinach or escarole leaves during the last few minutes of cooking.
4. Wine Recommendation: The nebbiolo grape produces wine with complex notes including smoke, truffle, and dried red cherry. A light-bodied version, such as one from Valtellina, is an excellent match.

bacon, carrots, onions, celery, mushrooms, garlic, lentils, chicken broth, water, rosemary, tomatoes, salt, redpepper, freshground black pepper, macaroni

Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/lentil-soup-with-tubetti-bacon (may not work)