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.