TUSCAN BEANS WITH SAGE

This dish takes time , but it is worth it . You can also use canned/ tinned cannelloni beans but the dish is not the same thing . So soak 360 gm of dried white cannelloni beans in cold water over night . The next day , bring 8 cups of water to the boil , add a tsp of salt , 1 bay leaf , 1 onion peeled and pierced with 5 cloves , the drained beans . Bring quickly to the boil , then turn down the heat to asimmer for about 3 hours . Heat 1/2 cup of vegetable oil in a large pot and stir through 2 tbs of minced garlic , add 8 sage leaves and the drained beans. Stir gently with a wooden spoon to coat the beans with oil . Add 400gm of peeled and chopped tomatoes ( fresh or canned ), simmer for a further 15 minutes . Serve with spicy sausages or alternatively stir through 250 gm of chopped bacon pieces when you add the tomatoes .