***Crock Pot Alert*** Italian Sausage and Lentil Bean Stew

This was an easy dish to throw together in the slow cooker.  Serve it on a chilly Fall day with a loaf of crusty French bread for dipping! Make sure you rinse your dried lentils first or you might get a few gritty bites of dirt...

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped

1 cup Shitake mushrooms, sliced or chopped
1 cup dried lentil beans, washed
2 bay leaves
3 cups frozen spinach
1 package of Italian turkey sausage links
3 cups chicken broth
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1. Heat oil in a medium pan and add onion and garlic. Saute until soft, but not browned.
2. Add mushrooms and cook until juices evaporate.

3. Pour vegetable mixture into bottom of crock pot.
4. Cover veggies with lentil beans.
5. Add Bay leaves and spinach.
6. Top with sausages, salt and pepper. Add broth.
7. Let cook on low for 7 hours.

Sprinkle bowls with Parmesan cheese and serve. Makes 4 servings.