In a cast iron pot, over medium heat, saute celery, onion, carrots & pepper in the bacon fat. Once the onion becomes translucent, add the garlic.
When the celery and carrots become soft, add in the remainder of the ingredients, cover and allow soup to simmer and stir frequently for 2 hours or until the lentil become soft and the soup has thickened. I prefer mine a bit al dente, as they will continue to soften, especially with any reheating.
Recipe by Millhorn Farmstead at https://millhornfarmstead.com/pulled-pork-lentil-soup/