This recipe works well either way you do it. I just find it easier to add all the ingredients without any precooking

Ingredients

1 package lentils – cooked – I used 2 cups of lentils uncooked
To cook – Pick through lentils making sure there are no stones (no kidding!). Cover lentils with cold water and bring to boil. Reduce heat to about medium and cook lentils until they are tender (I really don’t have a time frame for this, but it does not take very long). Most of the water ends up being absorbed into the lentils
2 cu. cooked rice – I added 1 cup uncooked rice
4 cu. diced ham or smoked sausage or both
Ham Bone
1 large onion, chopped – added onion raw
2 stalks celery, chopped – added celery raw
1 can diced tomatoes
1 t. salt
1/8 t. pepper
1 t. basil
2 to 3 cups tomato or vegetable juice – changed the liquid measurement to 8 cups – 4 cups V8 and 4 cups Vegetable Broth

Directions

Saute onion and celery in small amount of olive oil. Combine with lentils, rice, ham, ham bone, tomatoes, salt, pepper and basil in crock pot. Stir in tomato or vegetable juice. Cook on low for about 6 hours.

Taste before serving in case it needs more salt, but usually because there is ham in there it does not.