Italian Sausage and Vegetable Minestrone

Ingredients:

1 T olive oil

3 slices extra thick bacon (4-5 normal slice)

4 cloves garlic

1 lb loose italian sausage (or removed from casing)

1 ½ C onion diced

2 lrg carrots diced

3 stalks celery diced
2 bay leaves

2 medium zucchini diced

2-3 medium potatoes diced

1 can diced tomatoes

2 cans cannelini beans (rinsed)

2 cups savoy cabbage chopped

2 cups baby kale (cook longer for regular kale)

¼ C tomato paste

1 T Italian seasoning

Salt and pepper to taste

Red pepper flake to taste

Water

Rough chop the bacon and garlic and process it in a food processor until it’s a paste.  In a heavy bottom pot or dutch oven put about 1 T olive oil and add the bacon/garlic paste.   Cook until the mixture begins to brown.  Add and brown the italian sausage, breaking it up as it cooks.  Add the onions and red pepper flake allowing them to cook about 5 minutes.  Add carrots and celery and par cook them until they begin to soften.  Then add tomato paste.  Allow tomato paste to cook for a few minutes then add all the other ingredients.  Allow soup to simmer until all veggies are cooked through. 

Nee Nee’s Quick Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients:

¼ C bacon lardons

¼ C olive oil

2 T butter

1 bunch scallions diced

2 large cloves garlic diced

¼ C + 2 T flour

1 qt chicken stock

1 qt milk

4-5 med sized baked potatoes diced (I leave skins on)

1 ½ C shredded cheese
Salt & pepper to taste

In stock pot brown and crisp bacon. Remove the bacon to some paper towel to drain. Remove bacon grease from the pot (keep brown bits in the bottom). Add oil, butter, green onions and garlic. Sauté until fragrant (about 3-5 minutes). Add flour and cook a few minutes until flour is cooked. Whisk in chicken stock scraping the bits off the bottom of the pot. Add milk and potatoes. Mash potatoes with back of spoon till soup comes to preferred consistency. Put bacon back in Add stock or water if too thick. Stir in shredded cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.

I use all no salt or low sodium stocks and butter and season with grey sea salt.

Garnish with scallions, cheese, bacon and/or a dollop of sour cream. Enjoy!!