White Bean Stew with Tomatoes and Sausage

Ingredients:

• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage (turkey or pork)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 cans petite dice tomatoes with juice 
• 3 cans white or pinto beans, drained
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 - 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes (to taste)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• Salt to taste (I used about 1 teaspoon)
• 2 teaspoons dried cilantro
• 1/2 teaspoon ground fennel
• 1 quart chicken stock
• Spinach (optional)
• Rice, cooked (optional)

Instructions:

1. Heat the oil in a skillet, add sausages, and cook until nicely browned.  Remove to cutting board and when cool, cut into bite size pieces. While the sausage cools saute the onion in the same skillet.
2. To the slow cooker add the drained beans, tomatoes with juice, sausage, onion, spices and seasonings, and chicken stock.  Stir gently and then cook on high for 2 - 3 hours or low for 5 hours.
3. Serve over rice and/or  torn spinach leaves.  Garnish with cilantro or Parmesan cheese.

Note:  If you use diced tomatoes with garlic and basil, reduce the amounts of these that you add to the slow cooker.