Stovetop Baked Beans with Apple Chicken Sausage

This is a humble, but delicious dish for supper.  It's how we turn one of our favorite summer meals (hot dogs with baked beans) into a warm, one pot sausage and beans bowl for the autumn.

The stove-top baked beans recipe comes from Ellie Krieger's Comfort Food Fix.  Yes, I'm still fixed on Comfort Food Fix!  It is filled with so many incredible recipes.  This recipe is great in that you make on the stove in just 30 minutes, but it tastes like it's been in your oven all day.  Plus, by making the baked beans yourself (and not cracking open a can), you can control the sodium, sugar, and preservatives.

I used the apple chicken sausage from Johnsonville here.  Have you tried it yet?  It was delicious!
Stovetop Baked Beans with Apple Chicken Sausage
serves 3-4
 adapted from Comfort Food Fix, by Ellie Krieger


Ingredients:
2 tsp olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 8oz can tomato sauce, no salt added
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1 Tbsp white vinegar
1 tsp yellow mustard
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp paprika (preferably smoked)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 15oz can white beans, preferably small white beans such as navy beans
1 cup water
4 pre-cooked apple chicken sausages, sliced

Directions:
1. Heat the oil in a large sauce pan over medium-high heat.  Add the onion and cook 3 minutes, until the onion is translucent.  Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
2.  Add the tomato sauce, brown sugar, tomato paste, vinegar, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.  Whisk to combine.
3. Add the beans and 1 cup of water.  Bring to a boil.
4. Lower heat to medium low.  Simmer about 15 minutes.
5. Add the apple chicken sausage slices.  Simmer an addition 15 minutes, until the liquid has thickened and sausage has been heated through.
4. Reduce the heat to me