As I was standing at the kitchen counter, chopping neat little cubes of onion, carrot and celery for half an hour, it suddenly occurred to me…

Why am I doing all this work when it’s all going to get puréed into split pea soup? I could have dumped big chunks into the food processor bowl.

I’m sure you all know this, but I am kicking myself for just realizing it.

There’s so little I use the food processor for that it just doesn’t occur to me.

I only have a small food processor, a 40 year old Black and Decker. I never got around to getting a big one. But I do use it for chopping vegetables for soup: split pea, lentil, whatever. Also for combining ingredients for wonton fillings.

A fabulous Instant Pot lentil soup