1 lb smoked ham shanks                            8 cups chicken broth
1 package (16oz) dried lentils                     2 cups chopped celery
2 cups chopped carrots                             2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped                    2 cups shredded fresh spinach

Sort and rinse lentils.  Mix all ingredients except spinach in slow cooker.  Cover and cook on low 8-9 hours or until lentils are done.  Remove ham from cooker.  Place on cutting board and pull meat from bones and skin.  Stir ham and spinach into soup before serving.

Makes 8 (1 1/2 cup) servings