Chicken Sausage Soup with Lentils and Artichoke Hearts

I have been meaning to post a recipe for a while now! I just made this great soup and it was something different for our family, but very good! I have never cooked with lentils before, but I've always heard that they're healthy (tons of fiber) and wanted to try them. (And they're really cheap!) This was a great, healthy soup!

I got this recipe from hotgarlic.blogspot.com . Here is her link for it: http://hotgarlic.blogspot.com/2008/05/soup-as-promised.html

Here is her recipe with some of my own edits:

4 chicken sausages-get the flavored ones, I used garlic and herb flavored ones, check the link for her recommendations
1 onion, chopped
1/2 head garlic, chopped or pressed (I used 3 really large cloves)
3 or more carrots (I used 5)
1 cup dry lentils, (you will cook them before you add them to the soup)
1 can of quartered artichoke hearts
1 c. egg noodles (I used Healthy Harvest whole-wheat and was surprised by how yummy they were)
3 cans chicken broth
1 cup half and half (not in her recipe, but I got afraid it would "look" too healthy if I didn't add something to disguise it! I think it would have been good without it.)

In a large pot, slowly cook the onion until is starts to turn clear. At the same time, in another pan saute the sausages to brown up the casings nicely. Also put the lentils on to boil and cook for about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, chop the carrots.
Once the onions are clear, add in the garlic, the carrots, and the mushrooms (I didn't use mushrooms.) Saute it around for a minute before turning up the heat to high and adding a can of broth. Reduce for 1-2 minutes.

Add in the rest of the stock, and when the sausages are browned, slice them and add them in too. After about 10 minutes, add in the noodles. Once the lentils are done, drain them and add them in as well as the artichoke hearts and the remainder of the garlic. Simmer for another minute before serving. Garnish with minced parsely and grated Parmesan cheese if desired.