Sometimes I base my dinner choices on what the weather will be like at night. We finally got our first cold snap here, and I was more than willing to take advantage of it. I love hearty soups and comforting main dishes like roasted chicken, pot pies and pot roasts on nights like these. What better way to warm your tummy than with something spicy, but not too heavy. I paired the soup with Parker House rolls for dipping, but a nice green salad would be a great accompaniment, too – but I was going for comfort here 😉 Thanks for reading, enjoy!

In a 6 quart dutch oven over medium heat, heat the olive oil and add in the Italian sausage. Brown the sausage until it is cooked through. Drain and set aside. In the same pot, add in the onions, celery, carrots, garlic, herbs and spices, cook for about 10 minutes, stirring often. Add the chicken stock, vegetable stock, water (if needed), canned tomatoes, sausage, and drained lentils, cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer covered for 45 to 60 minutes, or until the lentils are cooked through and tender, stirring occasionally. Add water as needed to adjust the consistency of the soup. Check the seasonings – add more salt and pepper to taste. Serve sprinkled with grated Parmesan.