Hearty fare for winter

It's starting to get cold here, which means it's time to start making more hearty winter food - roasts that heat up the house, slow cooked stews and the like.

I cooked a lovely italian meal the other night, perfect for a cold night. And the best thing about it - it is quick and easy to make. Definitely not haute cuisine, more pleasure food.

Heat some olive oil in a sauce pan, throw in some fresh sage from the garden and some garlic, saute lightly. Grab a couple of tins of different types of beens - I had borlotti and cannellini - drain them, and add them to the pan. Add salt and pepper, and a tin of crushed tomatoes - with a teaspoon or so of sugar as well. Bring to a simmer and heat through.

In a frying pan,grill three chorizo, sliced into litle chunks, until you get the lovely chorizo oil coming out and the sausage is lightly browned. Add the chorizo to the sauce pan, stir through with the beans and tomato.

Serve it with some crusty italian bread and some nice freshly shaved parmesan.

And that's it! Bellissima!

I think I'll cook this for my phantom lover.