Kielbasa and Brown Lentils

My next recipe was inspired by the Tolkien Trilogy, which by now everyone should know due to the novel being brought to life on the big screen.  A friend of mine, Kathy had suggested that we have one of our “chip in” dinner parties based on Middle Earth.  The six of us were to make dishes inspired by the books.  I have to give Kathy kudos for this next recipe – it was her invention and man o man does it taste good!  I actually feel like I am in the shire and eating dinner with Bilbo or Frodo Baggins!

• 1 cup rinsed lentils
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 lbs. kielbasa, cut into ½” slices
• ½ tsp. pepper and salt to taste
• 2 medium onions, finely chopped
• 1 medium sized can whole tomatoes, rough chopped
• 1 tsp. light brown sugar
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tbsp. olive oil

Cook lentils in salted boiling water 20 minutes or until tender. Drain and reserve liquid.

Heat olive oil in pan and cook onions and garlic until tender.  Add in chopped tomatoes.  Cook over moderate heat until most of the liquid has evaporated.  Next, add the lentils, kielbasa, sugar, pepper, bay leaf and salt to taste.

Add in some of the liquid from the cooked lentils.  Pour into a casserole dish, cover and bake at 350 degrees for about one hour.  Add more of the lentil liquid during cooking time if necessary.  Serve with Pita Bread or Naan.