Ingredients

• 2 15- to 16-ounce cans garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound Italian hot sausages, casings removed
• 4 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
• 2 large garlic cloves, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 5 cups canned low-salt chicken broth
• 8 ounces (about 2 1/3 cups) orecchiette (little ear-shaped pasta) or other small pasta
• 1 1/2 cups grated Romano cheese

Preparation

Strain liquid from canned beans into blender. Add 1 cup beans and puree until smooth. Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add sausages, rosemary, garlic, and crushed red pepper. Sauté until sausages are cooked through, breaking up with fork, about 8 minutes. Mix in tomato paste. Add bean puree, remaining beans, broth, and pasta. Simmer until pasta is tender and mixture is thick, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Mix in 1/4 cup cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Serve, passing remaining 1 1/4 cups cheese.

Bon Appetit, February 2001

Ingredients

• 1 lb. kidney beans
• 1 lg. onion
• 1 green bell pepper
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
• 1 lb. hot cured sausage
• salt and pepper
• 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
• rice, for serving

Preparation

“Fast-soak” kidney beans. Chop onion, bell pepper, garlic.

Drain beans, and refill pot with hot water to cover beans by 2". Bring to a low boil.

Add 1/3 each of onion, bell pepper and garlic. Also add bay leaves and thyme. Simmer until beans are almost soft, about an hour.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, cook sausage and slice, or slice and cook, depending on what kind of sausage you have.

When beans are tender, add salt (it will take a lot - I add it until the broth tastes slightly too salty, and then often have to add more later), about 1/2 of the a can of tomatoes (with juice), ground pepper, and the remaining veggies.

Simmer until thick, adjusting seasonings and adding more tomato, if desired.

When nearly done, add sausage and cook about 10 minutes.

Serve over rice.

You could make this without adding the sausage (and serve it as a garnish for those who might want to add it) and it would be vegan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. hot breakfast sausage
• 10 oz. sharp grated cheese
• 2 1/2 to 3 c. Bisquick

Preparation

Let sausage and cheese stand at room temperature until soft. Mix thoroughly. Add bisquick and knead. Scoop w/ teaspoon, and roll into balls. Place on cookie sheet. Cook at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, or until brown.

May be frozen on a cookie sheet and kept in plastic bag until ready for use.