Tuscan Bean Stew with Garlic Toast

Ingredients

• TUSCAN BEAN STEW:
• 1/4 pound Applegate Farms Natural Sunday Bacon, cut into 1/2-inch strips
• 1 medium Spanish onion, diced (approx 2 cups)
• 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced (approx 2 cups)
• 2 ribs celery, peeled and diced (approx 1 1/3 cups)
• 5 cloves garlic, peeled and slivered
• 1 pound fresh green beans, cut or a 10-ounce bag frozen cut green beans
• 1 pound fresh spinach, or a 10-ounce bag frozen spinach
• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed and chopped
• 3 heaping tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 15-ounce cans cannelini beans, 1 left whole and 1 pureed
• 1 quart chicken broth
• 1 cup cold water
• 1 12-ounce package Applegate Farms Organic Sweet Italian Sausage, sliced in 1/8 rounds
• Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper, to taste
• GARLIC TOASTS:
• 1 fresh baguette
• 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 cloves fresh garlic, chopped fine
• 5 fresh basil leaves, rough chopped
• Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper, to taste