Tuscan Soup

The hot Italian sausage works beautifully to give some heat to this garlicky Tuscan soup. It's hearty and eats like a meal and one the whole family will enjoy.

What an easy soup this is to put together. It has big bold flavor from the garlic and the hot Italian sausage and with the potatoes and healthy kale it certainly is a complete meal. And what better to serve your family on a cold day than a hearty soup!
I am such a lover of soups and it doesn't matter whether it's a clear broth soup with a couple of simple ingredients, one laden with cream and nice and thick, or a soup chock full of everything but the kitchen sink. God bless whomever created the first soup! Soup is that comfort food you crave when you're sick, down in the dumps or just need respite from the cold.

• 4 slices bacon - small dice
• 1 lb. hot Italian sausage - casings removed
• 1 lrg. onion - small dice
• 4 cloves garlic - minced
• 32 oz. chicken broth (I recommend low sodium)
• 3 cups potatoes - cut in bite-sized chunks (use either Russet or Yukon Gold)
• 2 cups kale - cut up in pieces
• 1 cup heavy cream or half and half
• salt to taste
• black pepper to taste
• Parmesan cheese for garnish (optional)

1. In a large soup pot or sauce pan cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon then add the sausage and break it apart as it cooks. Once sausage is browned and crumbled, drain (Keep a tablespoon or so of the fat to saute the onion in.) and place in a waiting bowl. 
2. Saute the onion until translucent then add the garlic and saute until it is fragrant, stirring, about 30 seconds.
3. Next, add in the broth and potatoes, seasoning with some salt and black pepper. Simmer for about 20 minutes until the potatoes are tender. 
4. Add the sausage and bacon back in along with the kale.  Bring to a simmer. Taste and re-season as needed and cook until the kale softens and wilts; about 8-10 minutes.
5. Finally just before serving add in the cream or half and half. Mix well. Simmer for a few minutes more.
6. Serve with some bread and garnish with Parmesan if you'd like. 

Serves: 4

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 30-35 minutes

There you have it. A hearty soup the whole family will love.

The soup costs approximately $9.29 to make, feeding four for $2.32 each.