~* Recipe of the Week *~

It's winter, which means it's the perfect time to make all of those homemade soups and stews to warm our bellies and our hearts!!  I hope you try and enjoy some of my homemade favorites!!

Homemade Zuppa Toscana:

Ingredients:

2 3/4 cups (650ml) chicken stock or broth

1/4 cup (60 ml) heavy cream

1 medium russet potato

2 cups (475 ml) chopped kale

1/2 lb ground spicy Italian sausage

1/4 tsp (1 ml) salt

1/4 tsp (1 ml) crushed red pepper flakes



Preparation:

~Combine the stock and cream in a saucepan over medium heat.

~Slice the unpeeled potato into 1/4-inch slices, then quarter the slices and add them to the soup

~Add the kale

~Saute the sausage in a frying pan until browned. Drain thoroughly on a plate with paper towels.

~Add the sausage to the soup.

~Add the spices and let the soup simmer for about 2 hours. Stir occasionally.


** When I make it, I cook everything in a large crock pot on high until the potatoes get soft. Then I add the kale and cook it until it is softer as well. Make sure you check on the soup and stir it occasionally -- sometimes the cream and chicken broth get separated if the soup sits idle too long while cooking.


Goes great with homemade bread or garlic bread! Add a bit of grated parmesean cheese on top of the soup when serving for extra flavor. I double the recipe and then save some in containers in the freezer.

~* Enjoy!!!! *~