Ok. My wife simply loves the Olive Garden, especially the Zuppa Toscana soup. It's basically an Italian Sausage soup with potatoes and some kale and cream. I told her I could make this at home. "Yeah, right.." I get home, load up my browser, and do a search. Tons of links! The first one looked easy, so I tried it and she said it was even better than the Olive Garden.
Here ya go:
1 tube of Italian Sausage (as spicy as you like).
2-3 large russet potatoes, cut as you like them
Couple cloves of Garlic
1 Large Onion
3/4 cup chopped bacon (optional, but necessary)
Large can of Chicken Stock
Bit of Butter
2 cups Kale
1 small carton heavy cream
Brown Sausage in pan, or cook on oven until done.
Melt butter in soup pot, and saute minced garlic and chopped onion.
Add Chicken Stock and potatoes cook until potatoes are tender.
Add bacon, sausage, cream and kale
Cook on low until heated through
Now the bread bowls... I cheat. I use the bread machine to mix the dough. I use the Large French Bread recipe, and "dough only" setting. When the machine beeps, I take out the dough, and cut into 4 sections. Ball it up and let rise on the pizza stone for 45 minutes, or until they have risen. Place in 350 degree oven and bake until golden brown and delicious.
Important! Allow bread to cool a bit before cutting. Carve the top out of the bread and set next to the bread bowl. Fill bread bowl with soup and eat.
I have no idea what kind of beer goes good with this. I just drink whatever I have on hand. It usually goes down good.
Here ya go:
1 tube of Italian Sausage (as spicy as you like).
2-3 large russet potatoes, cut as you like them
Couple cloves of Garlic
1 Large Onion
3/4 cup chopped bacon (optional, but necessary)
Large can of Chicken Stock
Bit of Butter
2 cups Kale
1 small carton heavy cream
Brown Sausage in pan, or cook on oven until done.
Melt butter in soup pot, and saute minced garlic and chopped onion.
Add Chicken Stock and potatoes cook until potatoes are tender.
Add bacon, sausage, cream and kale
Cook on low until heated through
Now the bread bowls... I cheat. I use the bread machine to mix the dough. I use the Large French Bread recipe, and "dough only" setting. When the machine beeps, I take out the dough, and cut into 4 sections. Ball it up and let rise on the pizza stone for 45 minutes, or until they have risen. Place in 350 degree oven and bake until golden brown and delicious.
Important! Allow bread to cool a bit before cutting. Carve the top out of the bread and set next to the bread bowl. Fill bread bowl with soup and eat.
I have no idea what kind of beer goes good with this. I just drink whatever I have on hand. It usually goes down good.