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The temperature in Ottawa is currently -1 celsius (30F). Yes folks, it’s winter now, and with winter comes the time change, the darkness, and the inevitable descent into madness. Until spring at least, but that seems an awfully long way away right now.

Winter demands stew, so I made this today.

Spicy sausage and bean stew

Ingredients

• 4 sausages (600-650g or so, whatever type you like — I used nice fresh Italian sausage from the local butcher)
• 2 14oz cans white beans
• 1 14oz can red kidney beans
• 3 14oz cans diced tomatoes
• 1 med yellow onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• Fresh ground pepper to taste

Method

1. Fry sausages until done, drain fat, slice. Drain and rinse beans.
2. Heat oil over medium heat in a large pot. Saute onion and garlic for about 5 mins or so. Toss in spices, sugar, and thyme and saute for a few more minutes.
3. Add tomatoes, sausage, and beans. Simmer for an hour or two. Serve with crusty bread and butter.

It’s very, very, very tasty. The 1/4 tsp of cayenne gives it a nice heat, but you may want to adjust to taste.