Black Bean and Sausage Soup

serves: 4 – 6

1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 large carrot, peeled or scrubbed, chopped
1 stalk of celery, sliced
2 large cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 medium potato, peeled, diced
2 cups beef or chicken broth
1 28oz tin, diced tomatoes
4-6 oz lean kielbasa sausage, cubed
1 19oz tin black beans, or your favorite canned beans

1. Heat oil in large pot. Add onion, carrot and celery; cook and stir over medium heat until vegetables begin to soften.

2. Stir in garlic, oregano, potato, broth and tomatoes; heat to boiling. Stir in Kielbasa. Cover and simmer gently for at least 1/2 hour to blend flavours.

3. Drain and rinse beans. Add to soup. Heat until hot. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with crusty bread. (Even better the next day)

** We love this soup. You can prepare it ahead for a gathering and instead of simmering for 1/2 hour, put it in your crockpot on low and add the beans. By the time you are ready to eat (try to make it at least a half an hour) it will be ready to go. Great for potluck as it only gets better the longer it sits.

Enjoy!