• 1 pound Beans
• 1 pound Italian sausage, sliced into 1" pieces
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 12-ounce can diced tomatoes
• 1 6-ounce can tomato sauce
• ¼ teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
• 2 bay leaves
• ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 8 cups water

In a stockpot, sauté onion and sausage in olive oil until sausage is lightly browned, add garlic, green and red bell peppers. Sauté an additional 2 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a low simmer. Cover and cook for 2 to 3 hours until beans are tender, stirring occasionally. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese and crusty Italian bread.