Tara's New Year's Lentil Soup
(with Grandma's help)

To secure a year of good luck, health and fortune it is absolutely necessary (and part of tradition) to eat lentil soup! Grandma made her batch for the family and so did Tara - Italian-American style.

When we were little girls grandpa - in his attempt to demonstrate the immediate benefits of eating lentil soup - would sit next to us while we ate our lentil soup and jingle the change in his pocket. We weren't allowed to look under the table until we finished our soup, then to our surprise were lots of shiny coins. We couldn't believe how quickly our good luck came and we hope it finds you just as quickly.

Ingredients
1 cup of lentils
2 carrots
2 celery stalks
1 small/medium onion
5 cloves of garlic
2 medium sized potatoes
1/2 cup of tomato juice
2 table spoons of olive oil
1 lb of Italian sausage (optional)
2 large containers of my favorite College Inn chicken broth
or you can make your own stock

Remove the sausage from it's casing and put it in a large frying pan over medium heat. Use a wooden spoon to break into bite-size pieces. Stir frequently to avoid burning. No need to saute in oil because the sausage produces its own, however you can add a little bit of water to prevent burning, that will cook right off. Cook completely (no pink), approx. 12 minutes. Remove from heat and place in a bowl, cover with foil.

While your sausage is cooking, peel and chop your carrots, potatoes, onion, three cloves of garlic and your celery. Put your two tbls of oil in the same large frying pan you cooked your sausage in. Warm up the oil over medium/high heat and then add all your chopped veggies. Saute them for about 7 minutes and then add your 1/2 cup of tomato juice (or a pureed tomato if you want to stay completely fresh). Stir and saute for another five minutes over medium heat.

Transfer your veggies, sausage and 1 cup of lentils to a large pot and add the magical College Inn chicken broth to the point that everything is covered by a 1/2 inch of liquid. Don't forget to drop in your two unchopped cloves of garlic (yum)and salt and pepper! Give your soup a stir and bring to a boil. As soon as your soup reaches a boil lower the heat and let your soup simmer for forty minutes.

This serves 6 - 8 people and will bring all 6 - 8 of them a Happy and Healthy 2006!

Past Pontani Sisters' Recipes
Chicken Pontani Balsamica as per Mamma Pontani
Angie's Ranchero meets Jack Daniels Marinade!
Angie's Simple Sauce
Angie Chaca
Pontani-Esca!
Grandma Jo's Tomato & Cucumber Salad