RECIPE! Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana

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RECIPE : Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana

A man, or ANYONE, who gets me to cook is loved (and blessed) indeed!
Being a woman, I am often asked the question:

Can you Cook?

I should answer:

Can you make me?

Instead, I respond:

I have no reason to.

Cooking is such an act of love that I rarely (if ever) cook for myself. I honestly cannot think of one time that I cooked with myself in mind (sn: Cooking oodles of noodles doesn’t count, haha) Guess that means that I don’t love me enough to cook for me. I always think of cooking as THE worst burden if I am the sole recipient. Amazingly, on the other hand, cooking is THE best gift to be able to give to someone else.

So….

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 (optional)

Saute Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in pot.
Drain excess fat, refrigerate while you prepare other ingredients.
In the same pan, saute bacon, onions and garlic for approximately 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 boilin
Add potatoes and cook until soft, about half an hour.
Add heavy cream and cook until thoroughly heated.
Stir in the sausage.
Add kale just before serving.

Comments: Substitute milk for cream, if desired/available. I have only cooked it with kale (/fresh spinach) once. I prefer mine with extra spice, so I season according to my personal tastes. PLEASE NOTE: Flavors will be more potent after a day. I prefer to chop my potatoes thin instead of chopping them into cubes. Add grated Parmesan cheese at the end of cooking to thicken your soup.

I taught myself this recipe because my ex loves potatoes (and resultingly, Zuppa Toscana). I really enjoyed the recipe myself and happily let others taste it on occasion. He got mad at me once because I gave half of his soup away! lol (half of a crab pot’s worth) smh All of that to say, this recipe is DELICIOUS!