Sausage And Lentil Stew

Another good one!  It was quick (except for the hour of simmering) and easy.  My biggest issue with this recipe is that the point of these meals is that they are inexpensive, and they are, but many of the ingredients come in much bigger packages, and what isn't used will go to waste unless there is some planning.  For example, the kale comes in a 10 cup bag, but the recipe only needs 2 cups.  I cooked off the rest and am making a kale and chorizo fritatta next week.  The kielbasa comes in 14 ounce portions but I only needed 8 for the recipe.  These are parts of the ingredients that had to have money spent on, but they have no use in the week and they are not figured in to the cost.  If they go to waste, then the cost of the meals goes up.  I suppose there are markets out there that you can by a different size, but not my grocery store and I think it's a fairly good one. Ok enough complaining.  My darling and wonderful friend who recommended this site with the week of meals for under $50 to me reads the blog and I don't want her to think she needs to talk me off a ledge (LOL:*)  This is one we will be keeping. 

Sausage And Lentil Stew
2 t  olive oil
1/2    large onion,diced
1    large carrots,diced
1    celery stalks,diced
1    bay leaf
5    ounces French lentils
1/2 lb Kielbasa sausage,cut into 1/4-inch thick diagonal slices
2 c  fresh kale,coarsely chopped
1 Twenty eight-ounce can whole tomatoes,with juices
4 c  water
2 t  salt
1/2 t  freshly ground black pepper
METHOD:
In a large, heavy pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion,
carrots, celery, and bay leaves to the pan. Turn the heat to medium-low
and cook the vegetables, stirring frequently, until very tender, about
7 minutes.
Stir in the lentils, sausage, and kale. Add the tomatoes, crushing the
tomatoes with your fingers as they are added to the pot. Add the water,
salt, and pepper. Over high heat, bring the mixture to a boil. Then
reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1 hour, covered, until lentils
are tender. Stir and add more salt and pepper to taste, as desired.