Slow-cooked Sausage and Onions with a Cider, Beer and Mustard Sauce

This Halloween I decided to try to recreate something Jay made for our Halloween party two years ago.  He cooks everything by just throwing things together until it tastes good, which often works out well but is not so helpful when it comes to recreating the recipe.  With a little trial and error I took a stab at it, and was pretty happy with the result, although there's one thing I'll definitely change next time.  After some initial stovetop cooking, you can finish this recipe in a slow cooker or continue to simmer it on low on the stove.

One Pot White Bean, Escarole and Bacon Soup

 

Two years ago my friend Jo brought me this soup, and I never stopped thinking about it!  It's perfect for fall- it has the smoky bacon, hearty starchiness from the beans, a light broth with fresh herbs and escarole, and it would be awesome for dipping some fresh crusty bread in.