Throw caution to the wind!  Don’t drink that bad red wine – make soup!  This is the perfect soup to take somewhere — the longer it sits the better it gets!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. white beans
• 1 can tomatoes
• 1 lb. Italian sausage
• onion
• celery
• large bunch fresh oregano
• garlic
• thyme
• 1 bottle red wine
• Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Soak the beans.  Several hours or over night.
2. Drain, put enough fresh water to cover the beans plus the wine and tomatoes and cook until tender.
3. At some point add everything else.
4. Amounts are whatever looks good to you.
5. Sauté the sausage with the onions and celery and garlic and drain off some of the fat before adding to the soup.
6. The herbs just went straight in.
7. Give everything enough time so the flavors blend.
8. You could probably add carrots if you want, and it’s possible to use canned beans, though I haven’t tried it that way.
9. Serve topped with cheese and good chewy bread.

Serves:  12

Source:   Cathy Painter