Wednesday, January 7, 2009

YUMMMMMMY!


They are forecasting a chill for later this week so I thought I would share a yummy soup recipe to warm you all up!

Sausage, Kale and Potato Soup (my Olive Garden Knock-Off)

2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tbsp of red pepper flakes
1 package Johnsonville Italian Sausage (any variety)
3 thin skinned potatoes (Yukon gold or red ... you can use baking potatoes just peel them first), cut into thin slices or medium dice
1 large sweet onion, halved and then sliced thin
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 head of Kale, washed
1 carton of Chicken Broth
1 1/2 cups of Heavy Cream or Half and Half (optional, just use more chicken broth)
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Croutons (I make my own, but there are some great ones on the shelf too)
Parmesan Cheese

Pour the olive oil into the bottom of a large soup pot and heat, over medium heat, until shimmering. Take the sausages out of the casing and break up into the bottom of the pot, cook until browned and caramelized! Add in the onions and let them saute for two to three minutes. Add the red pepper flakes and garlic and cook for one more minute. Pour in the chicken broth and scrape all the yummy bits off the bottom of the pan. Add in your potatoes and cook for ten minutes or until they are fork tender. While the potatoes are cooking chop the kale up into bite sized pieces and add to the soup pot. Cover and let cook until the kale has wilted and the potatoes are very tender. Remove from heat and stir in the cream (you don't have to use cream it's just so darn good). Top with croutons and Parmesan cheese!