| CHICKEN SAUSAGECASSOULET

Ingredients

• 1 pound navy beans , dried; or white kidney
• 6 sausage, Italian , mild
• 4 chicken leg quarters , whole
• salt and pepper
• 2 tbsps olive oil
• 1/2 pound bacon , smoked; strips cut into 1/2 –inch pieces
• 1 tbsp thyme , fresh; leaves picked, plus 5 whole sprigs
• 1 large onion , finely diced
• 1 leeks , rinsed, halved, and cut into half-moons
• 2 large carrot , peeled and finely diced
• 1 large stalk celery , finely sliced
• 6 cloves garlic , minced
• 2 bay leaf
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1 28 oz can tomatoes , diced
• 1 quart chicken stock
• 1/2 lemon zest
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper , freshly cracked