Quick And Easy Spicy Sausage & Bean Soup

• 1/2 lb hot Italian sausage, cooked and cut into small pieces (use mild sausage if you don't like spicy soup)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1/2 medium vidalia onion (no need to cut it up)
• 1 cup pre-cut carrot
• 2 (8 ounce) cans beef broth
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 (8 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional for added heat)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups water

1. In a large soup pot, put olive oil and garlic powder.
2. Cook on low for about 3 minutes.
3. Add everything else to the pot.
4. Bring to boil.
5. Simmer for 25 minutes.
6. Using a slotted spoon, take out all veggies meats and most of the beans and place in blender to puree. you may need to put some of the broth in the blender too to help it along.
7. Return puree back to soup pot.
8. Simmer 10 minutes more stirring well to blend puree and liquid well.

hot italian sausage, olive oil, garlic, vidalia onion, carrot, beef broth, tomato paste, cannellini beans, red pepper, salt, black pepper, water

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/quick-and-easy-spicy-sausage-bean-soup-114620 (may not work)