From Debbi Hamelin
This recipe is a family favorite. As soon as the evenings cool, and the days shorten my family starts asking me to make this soup (it is better than olive garden, promise). I serve it with a toasty garlic bread topped with my secret garlic, butter, and other ingredients spread and a bright green salad. It screams fall without the pumpkin spice.
Recipe for Sausage Kale Soup
Ingredients
½ lbs sweet Italian sausage
½ lbs. hot Italian sausage
1 large yellow onion sliced (not chopped)
6-7 C hot water
4-6 medium potatoes, skins on, chopped bite-sized pieces
1 medium carrot, shredded
4-6 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. “Better than Chicken” Bouillon
½ tsp. celery salt
2 tsp. dry basil
1 tsp. crushed fennel seeds (very important, do not skip)
Fresh cracked black pepper
3-4 C coarsely chopped kale
1 ½ C Cream (half and half may be used if you do not have cream)
1 ½ C freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 T fresh parsley
Directions
Brown the sausage, drain, put into a large pot and set aside.
Using the same pan you browned the sausage in sauté the onion in a little olive oil until soft and semi-translucent.
Add to the pot.
Add all ingredients from #3 to the pot.
Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat but keep at a low boil.
Cook for about 10 minutes (until potatoes are tender).
Add kale, pressing into the liquid, once covered wait about 2 minutes
Add the ingredients from #5
Remove from heat and stir slowly until cheese melts.