A traditional New Year's Day dish in some regions of Italy.

Lentils with sausage will appear as a New Year's Day dish. It symbolized money, and in some areas today it is believed that eating them will guarantee a year of prosperity and good luck.

Ingredients

• 2 cups lentils, rinsed
• 4 cups water
• 2 cups dry white wine (or chicken stock)
• 4 Tbs olive oil
• 2 large tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
• 2 slices of pancetta (or bacon), diced
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 12 peppercorns
• 3 bay leaves
• salt to taste
• 4 pounds of Italian sausage
• 1 large onion, quartered
• 1 large carrot, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced

Directions

1. Combine lentils, water, wine, oil, tomatoes, bacon, garlic, half the peppercorns, 2 bay leaves, and salt in a pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer covered about 1 hour, or until lentils are soft.
2. Put the sausage, onion, carrot, celery, and remaining peppercorns and bay leaves into a large pot. Add enough water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer covered 30 minutes. Remove the sausage from the liquid. Remove the casings, and cut into slices.
3. Serve the sausage slices with lentils.

Paula Laurita
Italian Food Host

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