Kale, Sausage, & Potato Soup {Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Copy Cat}

Continuing on the Kale Saga I present to you ever so delicious soup with kale. And sausage. And potatoes. And beans. And fairy dust. And sparkles. Not really. I know - you're thinking potatoes and beans. Why the overkill? Well yes, in fact, I am putting both in the pot. And you must put both in your pot, too because the soup becomes more hearty and manly. Yeah, I'd call this man-food. And who doesn't need another man pleasing food recipe in their back pocket? Or just plain DEE-LISH-ISS food recipe in their back pocket, but it's not really in your back pocket because that would just be ridiculous to keep recipes in your back pocket, not to mention super unorganized so just keep it in your recipe binder or wherever you keep recipes. OK? Thanks. Uh-huh. Rock on! WORK IT. Well... now that I've got that out of my system. You're not still reading this are you? Because I would stop now if I were you.

Commence Kale Bombardment Photos: 

And as I have just bombarded you with kale photography, my CSA has been bombarding me with kale and guess what I have on my brain...kale brownies. Yep, my kids are going to thank me when they're 28 years old and have healthy eating palates. Right??!?! I hope to deceive them into eating said brownies, because unfortunately, I couldn't deceive them into eating Kale, Sausage, and Potato Soup.

Update (2/26/14): I never got around to kale brownies, but I did get around to putting kale into a cookie. 

The deception went something like this - Me (pleading): There's bacon, remember how much you love bacon with a side of pancakes?? Nope, didn't work. There's sausage, you eat sausage on pizza. Nope again. There's beans, you love beans. Nope, didn't work, because that's a straight-up lie. Now you really should leave because you've found out I'm a liar. And liar's are really uncool.

I guess my son couldn't get past the green curly things. Something about being a 5 year old does that to you - getting past green curly things can be a daunting and difficult task. Because his 2 year old self devoured bowls of kale soup, green things and all. What have I done wrong? Where have I failed between year 2 and year 5? How much time do you have? Nonetheless, I shall persevere in serving green curly things laced with beans and sausage and one day they'll come around. Yep. I believe that.

Update (11/9/2016): My son, now nearly 9 years old, devours kale soup and all things curly and green. Which means, NEVER GIVE UP! Make them try ONE bite - always. You never know which tastebud grew overnight. 

Printable Recipe Here

Kale, Sausage, and Potato Soup
recipe based on Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

1/2 pound smoked bacon
1 pound sweet or spicy Italian sausage
1 quart water
1 1/2 cups baby red potatoes, diced into chunks
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 14.5 ounce containers chicken broth or make homemade
1 15 ounce can great northern or cannellini beans
2 cups kale or other green, chopped
1 cup heavy whipping cream
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Place bacon in a single layer in a large stock pot on medium heat, do not preheat pan. Fry until golden and crisp, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Chop coarsely.

Break-up sausage in same stock pot over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.

Place water, potatoes, onion and garlic in the same stock pot. Cover and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. Add stock and meats, simmer 10 more minutes. Add beans and kale, wilt down. Reduce heat and add cream. Season with salt and pepper and heat through.