Lentil, Sausage and Pasta Stew

This soup is deeelish!  I've been pretty into soups lately - they're usually cheap, quick and yummy.  This was one that Jeremy really liked too.  And it's hearty enough that you don't need a bread to go with it.  This is slightly altered from Simple and Delicious.

Lentil, Sausage and Pasta Stew

• 1/2 pound Polish Kielbasa Sausage or Polish sausage, chopped or sliced
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup cubed peeled potatoes (or unpeeled Yukon gold potatoes)
• 1 cup sliced fresh carrots
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 5 cups beef broth
• 1 cup dried lentils, rinsed
• 1 can petite diced tomatoes
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup uncooked ditalini or other small pasta
• Shredded Romano or Parmesan cheese

Brown sausage in oil and butter in a large skillet. Add the

potatoes, carrots, and onion. Cook and stir for 3 minutes

over medium heat. Transfer to a 4- or 5-qt. slow cooker. Stir in the

broth, lentils, tomatoes, bay leaf, pepper and salt.

Cover and cook on low for 7-10 hours or until lentils are tender.

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Stir pasta into

slow cooker. Discard bay leaf. Sprinkle servings with cheese.