Slow Cooker Ribollita

• 1 pound dried cannellini beans
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large sweet onion, small-diced
• Kosher salt
• 2 large carrots, small-diced
• 3 celery stalks, small-diced
• 1/2 large butternut squash, peeled and small-diced (2 cups)
• 1 head garlic, cloves separated, peeled, and thinly sliced
• 1 (28-ounce) can San Marzano tomatoes, drained
• Bouquet garni: 2 bay leaves plus a couple sprigs each of fresh sage, oregano, flat-leaf parsley, and thyme, tied together with twine
• 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 pound cavolo nero (a.k.a. dinosaur kale or Tuscan kale), leaves torn into small pieces, stems finely minced
• 3 cups torn country bread, toasted
• 1 1/2 cups finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 6-quart (or larger) slow cooker

1. Place the beans in a large bowl and add cold water to cover by 3 inches. Cover the bowl and soak the beans in the refrigerator overnight.
2. The next day, pour the beans and their soaking liquid into a slow cooker. Add enough fresh water to cover the beans by 2 inches, cover with the lid, and cook on the high setting for 4 hours.
3. Place a very large saute pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil, and when the oil shimmers, add the onion. Season with salt and cook for 5 minutes, stirring every minute or so, until softened. Add the carrots, celery, butternut squash, and garlic, and cook for 5 more minutes, until starting to soften. Transfer the vegetables to the slow cooker. Add the tomatoes, crushing each one in your hand as you add it. Add the bouquet garni, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1/2 tablespoon of the red pepper flakes. Cook on the low setting for 3 hours.
4. Uncover the slow cooker, remove the bouquet garni, and add the kale, bread, 1 cup of the Parmigiano-Reggiano, and the remaining 1/2 tablespoon red pepper flakes. Stir the soup well, season with more salt to taste, and serve with the remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano sprinkled on top.

beans, extravirgin olive oil, sweet onion, kosher salt, carrots, celery stalks, butternut squash, garlic, tomatoes, bouquet garni, red pepper, cavolo, torn country bread, cheese, slow cooker

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/slow-cooker-ribollita-italian-cannellini-bean-kale-bread-soup-stew (may not work)