Nov 12 2010
Thursday Dinner Casserole
Dinner’s ready!
As promised, I made something new for Thursday night dinner. Finally!
As usual, it was more delicious than it looks in the photo. I would not add “food stylist” to the skimpy credentials on my resume. As it is, the things I can do are odd and mostly not all that useful. My ability to select the most expensive piece in estate jewelry ads in “The New Yorker” springs to mind. Never made a penny from that one.
I should work harder (or at all) at my original 6th grade goal of becoming idle rich.
While I’m doing that, enjoy the new recipe. I hope to have another one for you next week, even if I’m not a millionaire by then. A girl can dream.
Sausage and Bean Casserole
1 medium onion, chopped
16 ounces smoked turkey sausage (I used Aidells garlic and artichoke), cut into 1/4 inch thick slices
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 & 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth (I used homemade)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons tomato paste*
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cans (16 ounce) cannellini beans (or other white beans), drained
1 bay leaf
1/8 teaspoon cayenne (I used a few drops of Tapatio hot sauce)
3 slices bread (I used some fabulous artisan bread from the local bakery)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Preheat oven to 375.
Saute onion, garlic and sausage until browned, 5-10 minutes. Stir in chicken broth, scraping pan to loosen any browned bits. Stir in brown sugar, tomato paste, thyme, pepper(s), beans, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes.
While the mixture is simmering, pulse bread in food processor until it forms coarse crumbs. The crumbs should measure about a cup and a half.
Pour mixture into casserole and sprinkle breadcrumbs over surface. Bake for 15 minutes, or until crumbs are browned. Sprinkle with parsley before serving.
*One of the many things I learned while living in Italy was to buy tomato paste in a tube. Keep it in the refrigerator after opening. You’ll always have tomato paste on hand, and you won’t have to worry about what to do with the rest of a can.