First before I get into today’s post I just want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Ashton at Something Swanky!! I am sure you have already noticed the amazing transformation that the blog has undergone! This adorable look and all the pretty buttons are all due to her hard work. On this Last day of November the month of Thankfulness I am eternally grateful! You have to visit her blog!
I make this soup every winter for my husband. This is his absolute favorite soup that I make. He never ever eats leftovers, except for this and one other soup I make. That is the best endorsement I could ever hope to get! I wish that I could get him to eat more left overs of everything I make. He is really weird when it comes to food. No one knows why? I have asked his Mom and his Sisters and they all say he is just like that and they are glad that it is my problem now and not theirs. He can’t even tell why he won’t eat them he just won’t. I guess of all the weird habits a person can have that one isn’t too terribly bad. He has some Amazing Qualities that outweigh the weird food issues. Like he never cares how much money I spend and he wants me to have a good time whenever we go anywhere, he might not remember special dates and times but he can remember every silly little aside I have done. He really is my Best Friend and I don’t know what I would do without him. That’s my Stevie! So when he says that he is in the mood for his favorite soup I jump right to it and make it for him!
This year I made 2 changes and he said that they worked for him. Hallelujah! I usually use Russet Potatoes and this time I switched it out for White Navy Beans and I added a can of tomato paste. No reason for the change just felt like it. The tomato paste really did add a nice acidity and richness to it. I will be adding this in from now on. I use Kale because that is my green of choice. It is healthy and really holds up to the heat of boiling. To retain the bright green color you can blanch it first before adding it to the soup. I think Kale works better than bitter Mustard Greens and it doesn’t get slimy like Collard Greens. I might have been raised in South, but I was born in Chicago. As much as I love Nashville and the whole State of Tennessee, I can not eat true Southern Food like Collard Greens and Gibblet Gravy, and please keep Okra as far from me as possible! So Kale it is! Kale is also a “Super Food” So yippee for me on that one!
This is perfect when you need to warm up on a cold winter night. It has plenty of protein and complex carbs for sustained energy and feeling all full and happy in your tummy! Just look at all the yummy things in this soup: White Navy Beans, Italian Sausage, Kale, and spices galore!
Have this soup and a nice crusty roll and build your self a nice roaring fire in the fireplace, well that sounds like you have the perfect winter night planned!
For an even thicker soup omit the beans and use cubed russet potatoes with the skins left on. This is my own personal recipe that I created for my Family
Ingredients
- 1 lb Italian sausage links
- 1/2 white onion chopped
- 1 bunch of kale washed and trimmed
- 32 oz of Chicken Broth
- 2 cups water
- 2 14 oz cans of White Navy (Canellini) Beans
- 1 can of tomato paste
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tbs of marjoram
- 1 tsp of each white pepper, black pepper, red pepper flakes
- salt to taste
Instructions
- In a dutch oven or stock pot cook the sausage links till done and no pink remains
- remove and let cool a little (enough to handle to slice)
- over med high heat
- in the oil that the links left behind saute the onion till soft and translucent
- add the kale and toss around in the onions for 30 sec
- add the chicken broth and water
- add all remaining ingredients (go light on your salt. You can taste and adjust later if needed)
- bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer
- slice the sausage into 1/8' slices and add to the pot
- cover and let simmer for at least 30 min but an hour is better
- taste during this time and adjust your seasoning as you see fit
- Serve and Enjoy
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Very cute – love that your husband replied. I also love the change to white beans! They are so healthy! Thanks for sharing on Thursdays Treasures.
Christie – Food Done Light recently posted…Honey Roasted Acorn Squash
Thanks Christie. He was a few beers into to the night when he wrote that!
Yes, this is the real Stevie. I just want to post something in response to what Chandra wrote in her last post. For one, I know I have to be the fussiest person in the world. I do have food issues and it really limits what I take in. Not really sure why, but I do and hate it. Chandra has made a lot of dinners in the passed that I would not eat. The fussiness takes over, and I just can get it down. Bless her heart, she puts up with it.
This is just a little thing that she deals with. Her and I are working on our 13th year of Husband and Wife. Over the last 13 year, there have been almost as many hard times as there were good time. The beauty of it is, we worked through everything in life. Every thing that I am or have, I an or have because of her.
She is all left, and I am more right. (Politically Speaking). So, needless to say, when it came to my military career, there was differences. After a few classes of wine, you do not talk politics with Chandra, unless you are on her side. Even though theres been a lot of differences between us, she’s always had my back.
The military has, is and will always be a part of my life. I have spent 21 years of my life as an enlisted air crew member flying for the Air Force. From AC-130 gunships to HH-60 helicopters, she was always supportive. She has put up with many deployments over the years, and she was ALWAYS there when I returned. She put up with her fair share of separation and fear to last 2 life times. However, she always had my back.
I can truly say she is my better half. Yes, it is true, I can NOT remember every important days that matter to her. Sorry, but my days get lost and I loose track, but the things that matter are a lot of the little things. A lot of the cutest little things she says makes me smile. I know I love the color of her eyes since the day we met. I know our first kiss on to of the Peabody in Memphis was the greatest thing in the world. I know getting woken up be her and the dogs jumping all over me is something I don’t look forward to every morning, but I miss when I’m not home. I know that I can NEVER eat a McDonald’s Cheese Burger without a bite taken out of it from her. It just wouldn’t be the same.
I was not complete until May 22, 2000. that’s when I became whole. She is truly my better half. She made me who I am, and every medal pinned on my chest, she deserved 2. Thank you, Chandra for being you. I love you.
Thank you baby!
Aw! You are so sweet! I’ll email you soon…
Ashton @ Something Swanky recently posted…30 Holiday Neighbor Treats
= )
Ashton is the best, isn’t she? LOVE what she did on your new design! And this soup sounds awesome, too…I can see why Steve likes it.
= ) Thanks Asley! Ashton is THE BEST!
Like the new look very nice!!
Thanks Mom!
I love the new design so much….something about pink, white, and black:-) Great soup for cold chilly days too!!!
Jocelyn recently posted…Salted Caramel Pretzel Bark and $50 Pick Your Plum Giveaway
Jocelyn- Thank you Ashton did a great job! This is so very Me!!!
LOVE your new look!! And this soup looks so comforting and delicious!!
Becca @ Crumbs and Chaos recently posted…5 on Friday: Cranberries
Thanks Becca!