Sausage and Bean Casserole

Haven't made this one yet, but it looks good. I'll let you know.

• 1 c chopped onion (abt one medium onion)
• 1x 16 oz package light smoked turkey sausage, cut into 1/4" slices
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1x 14oz can fat free chicken broth
• 2 TB brown sugar
• 2 TB tomato paste
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 3x 16 oz cans cannellini beans
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/8 tsp ground red pepper
• 3x 1oz slices white bread
• 2 TB fresh parsley

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Heat a Dutch oven over medium high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion and turkey sausage to pan. Saute for 5 min or until browned. Add garlic and saute for 2 minutes. Stire in chicken broth, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.

Stir in 2 TB brown sugar, tomato paste, dried thyme, pepper, cannellini beans, and bay leaf. Add ground red pepper, if desired (optional). Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Place bread in a food processor and pulse 10 times or until coarse crumbs measure 1.5 cups.

Sprinkle breadcrumbs evenly over bean mixture, and lightly coat with cooking spray. Bake at 375 fro 15 minutes or until browned. Discard bay leaf. Sprinkle with parsley.

Yield: 6 servings, 5 points each