Zuppa


Zuppa Toscana.   This is my FAVORITE food of all time.    Its the biggest comfort food in my life.   When I was pregnant with our "baby" its the only thing I craved and I craved a LOT of it.  To the point she was nicknamed baby Zuppa for the 9 months prior to her arrival.  

You can find Zuppa Toscona copy cat recipes all over online (this is an Olive Garden specialty incase you live in a box and didn't know this).  I've tried most of them; and thats were mine originated.   Even pioneer woman now has one.   And while I'd never speak ill of her recipes; I have to say I prefer mine.   I feel like mine tastes as close to the real thing as possible without adding the hard work some of the others do.  I love a shortcut when I can get one (minced onions; minced garlic and pre cooked real bacon pieces).   

So here is MY variation of the soup that my soul sings for.....



Makes: 6-8 servings

INGREDIENTS
1 lb ground Italian sausage 
1½ tsp crushed red peppers 
2 Tbsp minced onions 
4 Tbsp bacon pieces 
2 tsp minced garlic
10 cups water 
5 cubes of chicken bouillon 
1 cup heavy cream ****
1 lb sliced Russet potatoes, or about 4 large potatoes 
¼ of a bunch of kale 

Sautee Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in pot. Drain excess fat, refrigerate while you prepare other ingredients. 

In the same pan, sautee bacon, onions and garlic until bacon is cooked. If you buy precooked bacon pieces like I do; then this step is skipped; you just add these ingredients in the next step.   
Mix together the chicken bouillon cubes and water, then add it to the onions, bacon and garlic. Cook until boiling. 

Add potatoes and cook until soft, about half an hour. 
Add heavy cream and cook until thoroughly heated. 
Stir in the sausage. 
Add kale just before serving. Delicious! 

 *When my grocery store has been out of kale; I have skipped it all together.   You can substitute spinach as well.

5 Star   (My children will eat it; as long as I don't add extra crushed red pepper.   Baby girl LOVES it)

****I've been substituting whole milk (now that we are buying it for the baby) and it saves on some calories and still tastes amazing.  It actually "seperates" less in the leftovers as well since there isn't as much fat!  <3


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