lentil soup with sausage & kale
a perfect soup for peak sweater weather
Whenever I check our mailbox in the month of December, I get a little jolt of happiness every time I see a shiny new seed catalogue waiting for me.
I’ve got a giant stack of seed catalogues sitting next to me as I type this, and even though I know I can’t possibly grow the vast majority of varieties found in these catalogues, it’s my favorite winter activity to flip through the pages and dream + scheme all the possibilities for the coming year. Because in the month of December, there are no weeds yet, no failed crops, no unexpectedly destructive weather… the season ahead is a fresh, untarnished start with endless potential.
In case it’s helpful, here are my go-to companies for sourcing high quality seeds –if you go to their websites, you can usually request a physical seed catalogue to be sent to your home:
Johnny's Seeds – especially suited for larger-scale growers, Johnny’s is a one stop shop for high quality seeds (and all kinds of farming + gardening tools). I source the majority of my seeds from Johnny’s.
High Mowing Seeds – 100% organic source for a wide range of seeds.
Floret Farm – a dazzling range of specialty flowers.
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange – seeds specially selected for the south/mid-atlantic region.
Row 7 Seeds – experimental seeds bred for maximum deliciousness.
Baker Creek – great for rare/heirloom seeds.
Need some culinary inspiration? Here’s my weekly round up of hyper-seasonal recipes from around the internet to help you eat like a farmer:
One last thing! If you’re still looking for a unique, truly farm to table gift for your favorite gardener / foodie for the holidays, I’ve got a few ideas…
A farm to table cooking class at our farm! Gift certificates available here.
A 1-year subscription to this newsletter! Print a gift card that you can wrap here.
After having a baby 8 weeks ago, I’m mostly back to feeling like myself, except for one very strange thing… I have no appetite. Like, ever.
As someone who loves food (and who makes a living growing + cooking food), this is definitely not ideal. In the before times, I’d always wake up hungry and excited to eat a big breakfast to start the day, but now I have to force myself to eat a plain bowl of cereal or some yogurt each morning. I’ve talked with my doctors about this, and we’ve got some strategies to make sure I’m still getting the nutrients I need (especially since I’m also feeding a small human 8+ times a day), and I’m sure that over time my appetite will come back. (Right?! Please tell me it will come back…)
Alas. Until that day comes, my saving grace has been SOUP. The *one* thing that my body seems to crave these days is any kind of soup or stew, so that’s mostly what I’ve been whipping up in our kitchen over the past few weeks.
On days when I need something hearty and packed with veggies, I love making this Lentil Soup with Sausage and Kale. There’s nothing fancy or revolutionary here, but it’s a reminder that the most simple ingredients – lentils, carrots, onions, celery – can come together in a pot and become something altogether new and vibrant and nourishing. This is a soup where the sum is absolutely greater than its humble parts.
A few quick kitchen notes:
Green lentils could also be used for this recipe, though they may take longer to cook due to their tougher exterior. Red lentils shouldn't be used for this recipe.
Feel free to skip the kale in this recipe, or you can substitute with some chopped spinach, collards, chard, etc.
You’ll see this recipe calls for an (optional) Parmesan rind, which adds a ton of lovely umami flavor as it simmers. A reminder that whenever you buy a nice wedge of Parmesan, don’t throw out the tough outer rind! Collect your leftover rinds in a baggie in the freezer and pull them out to add flavor to soups, stews, sauces, etc.
To make this recipe vegetarian, just skip the sausage! I promise, it will still be delicious.
Keep reading for the full recipe, including a handy 1-page PDF for easy printing.
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Lentil Soup with Sausage & Kale
Serves 6
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