Zuppa Tuscana - YUMMY soup!

[Jady]

I just have to share this recipe that I got off the internet. If you've eaten at Olive Garden, this is just like their Zuppa Toscana Soup. Yum! I've made it twice and it came out wonderful both times. Easy, delicious and filling!! Serve with bread, a great winter meal!

I am putting the link cause I'm too lazy to type it out!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/squidly/57999053/

[Fannie Kikinshoot]

Jady, I copied and pasted that recipe below. Thanks for the link!

1 lb. spicy Italian sausage - crumbled
1/2 lb. smoked bacon - chopped
4 cups water
4 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 lbs Yukon Gold baby potatoes, halved and sliced thin.
2 garlic cloves - peeled, crushed
1 med. onion - peeled, chopped
2 cups chopped kale
1 cup heavy whipping cream
Salt and Pepper

-In a skillet over medium heat, brown sausage, breaking into small pieces as you fry it. Drain, set aside.
-In a skillet over medium heat, brown bacon. Drain, set aside.
-Place water, broth, potatoes, garlic, and onion in a pot; simmer over medium heat until potatoes are tender.
-Add sausage and bacon to pot; simmer for 10 minutes.
-Add kale and cream to pot.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Heat through until kale is soft.

It's an approximation of the soup that Olive Garden serves, and it pretty much nails it. Great soup for a cold, blustery day. Serve with warm, crusty bread for dipping and you'll be lovin' life.

I doubled this recipe, and we'll freeze the leftovers for later use.

[maisondeverneur]

Ooooh I do like soup! I'd like to try this recipe but have a question.

The spicy italian sausage - I'm guessing that this doesn't mean a salami type sausage as you wouldn't be able to 'crumble' it - or does it mean 'chopped'?

[Lizzie Marie]

here we can buy Italian sausage links....and sometimes you can buy it bulk...if you buy the links just squish it out of the casing and fry it up....it isn't smoked or cooked, it is fresh...hope this helps

http://img.nextag.com/image/Maglio-Mild-Italian-Sausage/0/000/005/838/784/583878490.jpg (http://www.nextag.com/norob/PtitleSeller.jsp?chnl=main&tag=620042061&ctx=Mpok42%2B0noJJrsnONUp6JHTnmHr3BHvDTkadWm4JMIrj KytI2LqvWLXnQ1sojROhX%2B02Ngfb%2BL9v%0AaKyWJKiiW5h gl0iDcfowNs04ObGOr0U%3D&ptitle=583712503)

[Chris Brooks]

:drool:drool:drool Is the spicy sausage similar to chorizo ? We can get that here :drool:drool:drool

[Fannie Kikinshoot]

:drool:drool:drool Is the spicy sausage similar to chorizo ? We can get that here :drool:drool:drool
This link will show you the type of sausage this is referring to. It is sausage that must be cooked.

http://www.brooklynporkstore.com/PRODUCTS/FRESH_ITALIAN_SAUSAGE/fennel_sausage.htm

[Jady]

Hi! Sorry I didn't answer sooner, just got back from shooting. Soooo windy and cold today. I'd have me a bowl of this soup if I wasn't so full! We all went out for Mexican food after the shoot.

I used Johnsonville Mild Italian Sausage links. I just squeeze the meat out of the link casings and brown it like you would ground beef. I use this sausage for spaghetti sauce too.

Another thing I do slightly different fron the recipe is... I dice the onions and the garlic and then I saute them before I put them in with the chicken broth and other ingredients.

Thanks, Fannie, for putting up the recipe, don't know why I didn't think of that. Duh!

[Chris Brooks]

:ty Thanks for the link, Fannie. Now I know what I'm looking for. They may have something similar on the fresh meat counter at Sainsbury's, if not I'll have a look in the delicatessen the next time I go to town :drool

[Lizzie Marie]

I made it tonight....YUMMO.....sure hit the spot on a cold night (it is already -10 degrees.....yes that is minus ten and it is only 7:20 pm

[Ida Hands]

Thanks, ladies! The weather has turned rainy. This seems perfect.

[Jady]

Good, isn't it, Lizzie! We had it as left overs for dinner tonight! I adore soups in winter, could eat a different one every night. Soup and bread. Great diet huh! NOT!

C-C-C-Cold there, huh! Kinda cold here too, but nothing like that! Are you staying warm in your little apartment? What's going on with the house now? Too cold and snowy to do much?

It's supposed to snow here!! Unlike you, we're looking forward to it!

Miss you so much! Hugs to both of you! Jilly.