Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  12      ounces        swiss chard
   1      cup           lentils -- rinsed and drained
   1      medium        onion -- finely chopped
   2      cloves        garlic -- minced or pressed
   1      teaspoon      cumin seeds -- coarsely crushed
     1/2  teaspoon      crushed red pepper flakes
     1/8  teaspoon      coarse ground black pepper
   2      cups          water
  12      ounces        dry linguine
                        salt
   6      ounces        neufchatel cheese -- room temperature
                        grated parmesan cheese -- optional

Preparation:

Rinse and drain chard well. Trim off coarse stem ends; then cut stems crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide strips and set aside. Cover chard leaves and refrigerate. In a 3-quart or larger electric cooker, combine chard stems, lentils, onion, garlic, cumin seeds, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Pour in water. Cover and cook at low setting until lentils are tender when mashed with a fork (6 to 7 hours). Cut chard leaves crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide strips; stir into cooker. Increase heat setting to high; cover and cook until chard is wilted and bright green (about 15 minutes more). Meanwhile, in a 5- to 6-quart pan, cook linguine in 3 quarts boiling water just until tender to bite (10 to 12 minutes); or cook according to package directions. Drain well; pour into a warm wide 4-quart bowl. Season lentil sauce to taste with salt. Add lentil sauce and Neufchatel cheese to linquine; mix lightly to coat well. Offer Parmesan cheese to add taste, if desired.