Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana

It's been a chilly January here in California

(And, by chilly, I mean it's been in the 50's....we are wimps!)

The cold weather makes me crave soup.

I love soup....especially soup that I can make in my crock pot!

Here is one of our favorites....Zuppa Toscana...have you had it at Olive Garden?

One reason I like this soup is because it is packed full of kale....so healthy!

All the kale balances out the 1 cup of cream that you add to the soup, right? ;)

Here is what you need:

1 pound Italian sausage, cooked (I use spicy, but you can use mild)

3 russet potatoes, cut into bite-sized cubes

1 onion, chopped

 1 cup Hormel black label bacon, cooked and chopped (plus, save some to garnish your soup)

2 tablespoons garlic, minced

32 ounces chicken broth

2-3 cups of kale, cut/torn into bite-sized pieces

1 cup whipping cream (you can also use 1/2 & 1/2 or milk)

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Cayenne Pepper, to taste

Directions:

 Brown sausage in pan.
 Place cooked sausage, chicken broth, garlic, potatoes and onion in slow cooker. Add just enough water to cover the vegetables and meat.

Cook on high 3-4 hours (low 5-6 hours) until potatoes are soft.
(This is when I cook my bacon. I cook it in the oven at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes. I let it cool & then I chop it up. I usually cook 4-5 slices of bacon)

15- 30 minutes before serving the soup:

  Add cream, kale & 1 cup of chopped bacon to the crock pot, stir.

Cook on high 15-30 minutes or until broth thickens slightly (if you want a thick soup, you can whisk 1 Tablespoon of flour to your cream/milk before you add it to the crock pot)

Add salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste.

 Top with more bacon immediately before serving.

Mmmmm....I love bacon, which is why I always add more as a garnish. You can never have too much bacon...am I right or am I right? :)

Hope you love this soup as much as we do!
You can serve it by itself or with a salad & crusty french bread.
 

 ++++++++++++++++

Be sure and enter my FitBit Giveaway on THIS post if you haven't done so already!
 Giveaway ends this weekend!

Speaking of Fitbits.....this video cracked me up....so true....gotta get those steps in, even while cooking! I have been known to do laps around my house just so I get my 10,000 steps in for the day! Ha!

I don't know about you but I gotsa get my steps in anyway I can...B'Neika TashelleWhat are some unique ways you make sure you get your steps in for the day? #dontjudgeme #gettinginthosesteps #cookandjig
Posted by Once Upon a Squat on Monday, October 5, 2015