Thursday, December 4, 2008

Toscana Soup

Have you been to Olive Garden lately? I haven't. The nearest one is over an hour away. And although gas prices have dropped considerably ($1.55!) that's still way too far to drive to eat. Even if it's for WD's favorite soup--Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana. So a couple of weeks ago when WD was craving this hearty sausage and potato soup, I bravely opened up my messy cookbook and found my own recipe.

3 Italian sausage links
3 large potatoes, scrubbed and cut into bite size pieces
1/2 onion, chopped
2 cans chicken broth
4 cups water
2 cloves garlic, minced
2-3 TBS salt
3 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 cups kale
1 cup heavy whipping cream

Remove casings from sausage and brown in skillet. Add onion, potatoes, broth, water, garlic and salt to a large pot. Cook until potatoes are tender. Add sausage, bacon, kale and cream. Heat through and serve.

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27 comments:

  1. I usually get the salad at OG, I'll have to try the soup now!

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  2. Oh my! This looks delicious and I am printing it RIGHT NOW!

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  3. Nope. And we are within 10 min of one. Since the economy went in the crapper, it's just eating what I cook. (lucky them, lol)

    This dish looks realllly good though!

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  4. wow this looks good, yeah we live about an hour away from our nearest olive garden too! thanks for sharing.

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  5. oh, you and your soups!!! yum, so trying this one too :-)

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  6. I love Olive Garden we just had it last week. Their soup and Salad and of course their breadsticks are to die for! can't wait to try the soup looks delicious!

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  7. Looks good. Can't wait to try it. We love the Zuppa Toscana.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  8. My hubby and I meet while working at a competitor of OG's in college so we don't go out for Italian too often, especially OG.

    That soup does sound good though. The ground is covered in snow here and I was just thinking this morning how good a creamy soup sounded.

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  9. WHy do you always tempt me with things I can't get in FRance? Dr. Pepper, Olive Garden, Peppermint Chocolate Milk mix, ...
    At least the recipe I can duplicate!

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  10. That looks so darn good! I think my husband would love this recipe! Thanks!

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  11. That sounds yummy! I may have to try it with veggie meat. I know it is not the same thing - but I will "make it work!"

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  12. ooooooh Ali, this is somthing I will def. make this weekesd! It looks so goooooood!! Thanks gurl!! LA

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  13. now that sounds good! Can find that in a can!

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  14. Wowee, that looks great. Bet it's even better than OG's version.

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  15. This sounds delish; Now canyou get the Chiken and Gnocchi soup recipe :)

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  16. I've used a very similar recipe and my husband loves it! I'm not much for sausage, so I usually pick around it. I've also used half/half and 1% milk before and it works out just as well.

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  17. Oooh! For the first time, I tried out one of the soups, and the Zuppa Toscana turned out to be a very lovely one. I, too, live too far from the nearest Olive Garden to justify the drive back and forth, so I am VERY excited about this one.

    I'm curious, though: Did you use sweet or spicy Italian sausage?

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  18. that looks amazing...wish I cooked "real" food.

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  19. I love love loooove this soup. I love how you can have unlimited refills at Olive Garden, but making it at home would be even better. Thanks for sharing!

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  20. mmmmm, this sounds delicious!!! I'll have to try this one!

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  21. I made this soup, tweaked it just a bit to lower the fat, and I really, really enjoyed it. Thanks for the recipe and inspiration.

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  22. making a mondo batch of this tonight for family coming in tomorrow. my house smells SO GOOD!!!

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  23. thanks the recipe. however, ive just made this and the salt content suggested is WAAYWAYYY too much. 2-3 tables spoons? wow. the soup tastes and smells great besides it feels like im setting myself up for coronary bypass. thanks. ill definately be making it again with less salt.

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  24. Mark--sorry it was too salty! I use the large baking potatoes (not the ones that come in the bags) and they are so big that 2-3 tablespoons works for my taste:)

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  25. thanks for the reply ali. i see now where there would be confusion! im remaking it tonight. cant wait to eat! nomnom. :)

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Thanks for commenting!