Orange-Scented Lentil Salad With Wilted Escarole

• 4 thick cut slices of bacon (Nueske's is a good choice)
• 2 cups low sodium chicken stock
• 2 cups water, plus more as necessary to wilt the escarole
• 1 cup Lentilles du Puy (small French green lentils)
• 2 Bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
• 3 leeks, white and pale green parts, thinly sliced
• 2 peels of orange zest (about 1" x 3", each)
• 1 small bulb fennel, finely chopped
• 1 medium carrot, finely chopped
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 1 medium head of escarole, coarsely chopped
• 2 teaspoons best quality balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• Salt, to taste

1. Place chicken stock, water, bay leaves, and lentils in a medium sized sauce pan over medium heat; bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, and cook until lentils are al dente (on the softer side) - about 40 minutes; add more water, as necessary, to keep the lentils from drying out.
2. In the meantime, fry bacon until crisp in a dutch oven; remove with tongs to drain on paper towels and set aside, reserving about 2 Tablespoons of the bacon fat in the dutch oven.
3. Add oil to the bacon fat in the dutch oven; add leeks and orange zest strips and saute over medium heat until leeks are just beginning to soften; add fennel, carrots, and a good dose of black pepper, and saute until the vegetable are crisp tender; remove from heat until lentils are cooked.
4. When the lentils are finished cooking, stir them, with 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid (add more water, if necessary), into the vegetables in the dutch oven; bring to a simmer, add escarole, and cook until escarole is withered.
5. Remove from heat; stir in vinegar; stir in cream, adjust salt and pepper to taste; transfer to favorite serving bowl; top with crumbled bacon, and serve.

bacon, chicken stock, water, lentilles, bay leaves, olive oil, leeks, peels of orange zest, bulb fennel, carrot, freshly ground pepper, head of escarole, balsamic vinegar, heavy whipping cream, salt

Taken from food52.com/recipes/8544-orange-scented-lentil-salad-with-wilted-escarole (may not work)