RECIPE: SAUSAGE, LENTIL AND RAPINI STEW

Ingredients:

1 lb. sausage, sliced into quarter inch rounds
1 large onion, chopped
3 carrots, sliced
1 cup lentils
2-4 cups vegetable broth
1 bunch broccoli rabe (rapini), chopped, stems and leaves separate
salt and pepper

Directions:

Cook sausage in a large pot until browned, then remove sausage with a slotted spoon, leaving fat in pot, and set sausage aside. Cook onion in the sausage fat until translucent. Add sliced carrots and broccoli rabe stems, and cook briefly, about 2 minutes. Add lentils and 2 cups vegetable broth, cover and lower heat. Simmer for about 15-20 minutes, until lentils and carrots are tender (add more vegetable broth if needed), then add sausage and the broccoli rabe leaves. Cover and simmer about 5 minutes, or until leaves are wilted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.