Boca Sausage, Barley and Bean Soup

Sit down to a hearty bowl of low fat, cholesterol free bean soup. It's made with Great Northern beans, a good source of dietary fiber, and tomatoes that add a rich source of vitamin C. This recipe is from Kraft
 * Contributed by Healthy Recipes For Diabetic Friends Y-Group
 * Source: Brand-Name Diabetic Meals in Minutes, a cookbook published by the American Diabetes Association
 * Preparation time: 10 minutes | Total time: 30 min
 * Number of Servings: 6

Ingredients

 * 1 x 10 oz pkg frozen Boca meatless smoked sausage
 * 4 cups or 1 qt water
 * 1 x 15½ oz can Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
 * 1 x 14½ oz can stewed tomatoes, with juice
 * 1 medium onion, chopped
 * ½ cup celery, chopped
 * ½ cup or 2 medium sliced carrots
 * ½ cup quick-cooking barley
 * 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
 * ½ tsp dried basil leaves
 * 1 dash hot pepper sauce (optional)

Directions

 * 1) Cut sausage into ¼-inch-thick slices (tip: slice sausage while still partially frozen. Remove sausage from freezer about 10 minutes before slicing or thaw slightly in microwave before slicing).
 * 2) Place sausage and all remaining ingredients except hot pepper sauce in Dutch oven or large saucepan.
 * 3) Bring to boil; cover.
 * 4) Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
 * 5) Season to taste with hot pepper sauce.

Nutritional information
Per 1 cup serving:
 * 230 Calories | 4g Total Fat | 0g Saturated Fat | 0 mg Cholesterol | 650 mg Sodium | 32g Total Carbs | 7g Dietary Fiber | 7g Sugars | 16g Protein
 * Exchanges: 1½ starch | 1 vegetable | 1 meat