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Menu Plan for Winter II: Week 5, Thursday

Lentils with Brown Rice and Sausages

Cooking time:  45 minutes for menu          Cooking schedule: see below for instructions

       Brown rice and lentils.... How healthy can we get?  Well, except for the sausages.... Use turkey. 
I use the small, green or black lentils and I think their flavor goes well with both a hearty rice and the sausage.  You could substitute tan lentils but not the red ones as they don't hold their shape.

Lentils with Brown Rice and Sausage 

Total time: 45 minutes
     Almost a one-dish dinner, the rice and lentils are cooked together in a sofrito of garlic, onion, pepper, celery and carrot.  Add as much or as little chili powder as you like and/or finish with a dash of hot sauce.  Both the lentils and the brown rice I use cook in 20 minutes.  If you use traditional, long-cooking brown rice, partially pre-cook it before adding.  Or substitute Basmati.

 Ingredients:

• 1 onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/3 cup lentils, either Lentils du Puy or regular tan or brown lentils
• 1/2 cup (3.3oz, 95gr) brown rice, quick-cooking (20 minutes)
• 2 1/4 cups (18oz, 540ml) chicken stock
• 10oz (300gr) sausages, Italian, spicy, turkey
• 1/2 green pepper
• 1 carrot
• 1 rib celery
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tbs tomato paste

 Instructions:

• Chop onion.
• Mince garlic.
• Heat oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat.  Add chili powder and sauté 1 minute. 
• Add onion, garlic and sauté 5 minutes. 
• Chop celery, green pepper and carrot, add to skillet and sauté 5 minutes longer. 
• Pick over lentils in case they missed the odd stone. 
• Add stock, rice, lentils and oregano to pan and bring to a boil. 
• Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until done.  Stir occasionally. 
• In a nonstick skillet, sauté sausages until well-browned and cooked through.  Cover and remove from heat until needed.
• Check rice/lentils by tasting.  Are they done?  If not do they need more liquid?  If they are, do they need to be drained (they shouldn't).  There should be a bit of liquid left, if not add a tbs or 2 of water. 
• Add the tomato paste and stir well. 
• Cut sausages into 3 or 4 pieces each and add to rice/lentils.  Heat through and serve.

Cooking schedule: 45 minutes Assemble all ingredients and utensils Utensils: measuring cups, spoons, knives, large saucepan with lid, large skillet with lid Chop onion Mince garlic Sauté chili powder in oil Add onion, garlic, sauté Sauté sausages Chop celery, pepper, carrot Add celery, pepper, carrot to onion/garlic, sauté

Turn sausages Check lentils Add rice, lentils, stock, herbs to saucepan Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, simmer When sausages are done, cover, remove from heat.      15  - 20 minute break Check rice and lentils, adjust if needed When happy, add tomato paste Slice sausages, add Heat through Serve

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By Katie Zeller

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