Tomato Stew with Chicken Italian Sausages

Prep Time: 20 mins  | Cook Time: 6 hours  | Course: Dinner | Servings: 6

Saucy tomatoes, great northern white beans, gear like pasta and chicken Italian sausages dot this hearty tomato stew.  This recipe came out of not knowing what to do for dinner, I looked in my pantry and fridge and out came a new favorite tomato stew like soup. A bit too thick to be a true minestrone. Serve up with cheese toasted bread.

1 28-oz can diced tomatoes, + add the same amount of water

1 15-oz can of tomato sauce, + add the same amount of water 

1 15-oz can great northern white beans, rinse the beans

1 small onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 Tbsp butter or olive oil

2 chicken Italian sausages, sliced

3 oz. small pasta such as gears, alphabits, anellini, etc.

1 tsp salt

Pepper, to taste

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tsp parsley, dried

½ tsp oregano

½ tsp basil

In a soup pot over medium low heat, add in the tomatoes and sauce with a can of water from each. Rinse and add in the beans, onion, garlic, butter or olive oil, sausages, pasta, salt, pepper and herbs. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until the pasta and sausages are both cooked. Taste for seasoning, a few crushed red peppers may be nice here.