With the wet and stormy weather coming, I thought I'd share a couple of great stormy day soups!
Zupa Toscana – 2 recipes
I LOVE this stuff. Unfortunately, I can't have it on my Nutrisystem plan. But come a cold and stormy January day….Oh Yeah! It's gonna be gooooooood!
INGREDIENTS
1 pound Italian sausage
2 large russet baking potatoes sliced in half, and then in 1/4 inch slices
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 cup cooked, crumbled bacon
2 cloves garlic minced
2 cups kale or swiss chard, chopped {spinach is also good}
2 cans chicken broth
1 qt. water
1 cup heavy whipping cream
Slice sausages in to coins. Heat in heavy pan {no oil}, stirring constantly until warmed through. Remove from pan and drain on paper towels.
Place onion, potatoes, chicken broth, water, and garlic in pot, and cook on medium heat until potatoes are done.
Add sausage, bacon bits, salt, and pepper to taste, and simmer for another 10 minutes.
Turn to low heat, add kale and cream. Heat through and serve.
Recipe #2:
Makes: 6-8 servings
INGREDIENTS
1 lb ground Italian sausage
1½ tsp crushed red peppers
1 large diced white onion
4 Tbsp bacon pieces
2 tsp garlic puree
10 cups water
5 cubes of chicken bouillon
1 cup heavy cream
1 lb sliced Russet potatoes, or about 3 large potatoes
¼ of a bunch of kale, swiss chard, or spinach
Sautee Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in pot. Drain excess fat, refrigerate while you prepare other ingredients.
In the same pan, sautee bacon, onions and garlic for approxiamtly 15 mins. or until the onions are soft.
Mix together the chicken bouillon and water, then add it to the onions, bacon and garlic. Cook until boiling.
Add potatoes and cook until soft, about half an hour.
Add heavy cream and cook until thoughouly heated.
Stir in the sausage.
Add kale just before serving. Delicious!
Baked Potato Soup, 2 versions!
Here is a soup that is just really really good for wintery wet days.
I'll give you the "original" version and then my sisters "played with" one.
12 slices bacon
2/3 cup marg.
2/3 cup flour
7 cups of milk
4 large baked potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 green onions, cut up
1 1/4 cup shredded cheddar
1 cup sour cream
1 teas salt
1 teas. pepper
Fry bacon, drain, and crumble. Set aside
Melt the marg. in a stock pot
Whisk in the flour til smooth
Gradually stir in the mild whisking constantly til thickened
Stir in the potatoes and onions
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.
Add all else and heat thru til cheese melts.
6 hearty bowls
Second version :
1 cup of bacon ends, cut up
1 cube of marg.
1 cup flour
about 4 cups of water
1 cup of reg. milk (or just more water or add powdered milk for a milkier taste)
1 can evaporated milk
6 baked potatoes, cut up but leave the peelings on
4 green onions, cut
salt and pepper about a teas. or so
1 cup sour cream
1 to 2 cups shredded cheddar
Fry the bacon bits and drain most, not all of the fat. Melt the margaringe into this. Add the flour and heat about a minute while stirring. Slowly stir in the first 3 cups of water and then add more as it thickens. Bring just to a boil and stir for a couple of minutes til it is thickend . Add the potatoes and green onions and cook for about 5 minutes or til onions are a bit cooked. NOW add your milks as well as the cheese, sour cream, and seasoning. Heat thru and serve. If it seems tooooo thick just add more water or milk. It's really good served with fresh homemade rolls. If the soup is thick like stew it just spoon onto your roll or bread and it soooooo good.