Spicy Sausage-Kidney Bean Soup

The original is from Southern Living 1983 cookbook and is credited to Mrs. Frank Patton from Johnson City, Tenn. This is a favorite of ours that we often double and freeze in lunch size portions for DH. The original recipe calls for canned beans, but we process dried beans. If you don't have a pressure cooker, it will take longer, so if you're in a hurry, use the canned variety. We also tend to increase the spices and herbs and use hot sausage to increase the impact. (time does not include soaking)

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 6
• Yields: 2 cup servings

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 cups dried kidney beans (or 2 cans, 16 oz. each kidney beans, un-drained)
• 2  cups  beef stock (or water, enough to cover beans by 2 inches)
• 1  lb bulk pork sausage
• 1  large onion, chopped
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes, un-drained
• 1  bay leaf
• 1  quart  beef stock (or water)
• 1  teaspoon salt (to taste)
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons seasoning salt
• 3⁄4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1  red bell pepper, chopped
• 1  cup potato, in 1/2-inch dice

Directions

1. Pick over dried beans and soak for at least 4 hours. If not using a pressure cooker, soak beans overnight.
2. Place beans in pressure cooker with enough beef stock or water to cover by 2 inches and process 12-15 minutes, depending on how long they've been soaked. (Feel free to add extra garlic or a bay leaf if you so desire.) Allow to come down from pressure naturally. If not using a pressure cooker, place in pot and simmer for 2-3 hours until almost tender, adding more liquid if necessary.
3. In a large Dutch oven brown sausage, stirring to crumble the meat. Drain pan drippings if desired. Add onion and garlic and saute until transparent. Add tomatoes, bay leaf, stock or water, salt, seasoned salt, thyme and beans with their liquid whether canned or processed dry. Cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Add bell pepper and diced potato; cover and simmer 20 more minutes until potatoes are tender. Remove bay leaf before serving.