Italian Black Bean Chili

We originally found this recipe on the back of a can of Progresso Black Beans. We've lost the recipe a few times over the years. They don't have this recipe on the back of the can anymore. After we remembered most of the ingredients, we found the recipe online. Interesting side note: If you go to the Progresso website to try and find a recipe it actually sends you to a Betty Crocker website, which does not have this recipe either! Anyway, it is a very good chili and we enjoyed it quite a bit. I, of course, always put cheese on top of it!

ITALIAN BLACK BEAN CHILI

Ingredients:
1/2 pound bulk italian sausage
2 cans (15 oz.) black beans or cook dry black beans
1 can (14.5 oz) beef broth
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
1 cup sliced carrots
1/2 cup sliced onions
2 bay leaves

Directions:
Cook sausage until browned and drain. Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered for 20 minutes. Remove bay leaves. Use potato masher to mash part of carrots and beans. Soup will thicken.