Lentil and Sausage Soup

My wife and I have given up going out for New Years, we just spend the evening at home. We have a nice dinner, usually lobster of some kind. Open a bottle of presecco with the lobster and finish it at midnight. Presecco is a sparkling wine from Italy. It is sweet and tastes very much like Asti if you have had that. Presecco is the traditional alcohol used for making Bellini's. My wife and I prefer it over champaign. This year only one of us made it past 10:30 PM, but I won't embarrass my wife by telling you she fell asleep at 9:00 PM slept until 10:00. Then she watched most of the news and then went upstairs to bed.
For New Years Day we had a bowl of sausage and lentil soup. Lentils and pork (the sausage) are both considered symbols of good luck in Italy. Lentils are also a symbol for money. I don't know anybody who doesn't want good luck and money so it just seems like a good idea to start the new year.

Lentil and Sausage Soup
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 lb. Cotechino Sausage, or any pork sausage cut into small dice
1 medium carrot, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 large clove garlic, thinly sliced see note
1/2 pt cherry tomatoes, halved
2 14.5 oz cans Lentils or 1 pound dried
3 cups water
salt, to taste
crushed red pepper, to taste

Note: I don't use cherry tomatoes I use canned "small tomatoes from the hillside" from Italy. These tomatoes have been peeled and are grown on the mountainside in volcanic soil. So you can peel you cherry tomatoes or find pomodorini di collina on the internet or eat an Italian import store like I did. The brand that I have is Annalisa.
In a dutch oven over medium heat add the olive oil. When olive oil is hot add the sausage and cook for 3 minutes. Add the carrot, celery, garlic and tomatoes. Cook for 10 minutes until vegetables are soft. Add the lentils and water, bring soup to simmer, cook for 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Season with salt and crushed red pepper. 

Sausage and Lentil Soup

This is a recipe that I learned in an Italian cooking class. Annette and I really like this and make it frequently. It is very hearty and will warm you up on a cold day. Sausage and lentils are a traditional New Years food in Italy. If you can't find escarole leave it out, you will still have a good soup.

Sausage and Lentil Soup

2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 lb. Cotechino Sausage, sliced longwise & then horizontally
1 medium carrots, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 large clove garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 pt cherry tomatoes, halved
2 14.5 oz cans Lentils or 1 pound dried
1 head escarole, chopped
3 cups water
salt, to taste
chili pepper, to taste

In a dutch oven over medium heat add the olive oil. When Olive Oil is hot add the sausage and cook for 3 minutes. Add the carrot, celery, escarole and tomatoes. Cook for 15 minutes until vegetables are soft. Add the lentils and water, bring soup to simmer, cook for 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Season with salt and chili pepper. Serve Immediately.