1 lb Italian sausage (I like mild sausage)

3 medium to large potatoes UNPEELED, sliced into slices

1 large onion, chopped

4 strips of thick cut bacon

4 garlic cloves, minced

3 cups kale chopped

2 (8 ounce) cans chicken broth

1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes

1 quart water

1 cup heavy whipping cream, or 1 1/2 cups of half and half

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/olive-garden-copycat-zuppa-toscana-38298#ixzz1h8U5hglJ1. Cook bacon in large stock pot. Remove after its done and drain all but 2 Tablespoons of bacon drippings.

2. Cook onions in the bacon drippings.

3. Remove casings from sausage. Brown sausage in your soup pot.

4. Add garlic and cook through.

5. Add chicken broth, water, and potatoes to pot and stir.

6. Cook on medium heat until potatoes are done.

7. Turn to low heat.

8. Add kale and cream or half and half.

9. Heat through and serve.

fromscratchtoplateLASAGNASOUP8 oz fusilli pasta, or lasagna noodles broken into bite sized pieces.2 tsp olive oil1 pound mild Italian sausage (or hot, if youlikesome kick)3 cups chopped onions4 garlic cloves, minced2 tspItalianseasoning2 TBS tomato paste1 28 oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes6 cups chicken stock1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, cut into strips.8 oz. ricotta1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese1/2 cupshredded mozzarella cheesemore shredded mozzarella cheese for the top

In a large pot, boil your noodles to al dente (not super floppy) according to package directions. Drain and set aside. In your soup pot, drizzle the olive oil and heat over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook until pieces are starting to brown. Add the onions and contnue to cook, stirring frequently, until the sausage is fully cooked and the onions aretranslucent. Add the garlic,Italianseasoning and tomato paste. Cook for a minute or two, until the tomato paste darkens. Add in the tomatoes with their juice and the chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix the ricotta, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. When the soup is done simmering, add the noodles and basil into the soup. To serve, place a dollop of cheese mixture into each bowl and pour the soup over it. You can sprinkle more mozzarella on top, if you desire.

Adapted from: A Farm Girls DabblesREAL food alert: Read above about canned tomatoes. Check your Chicken stock for MSG. Check your sausage for MSG and Preservatives.ALLERGY alert: to make dairy-free, eliminate the cheese. For gluten-free, use rice pasta.VEGGIE alert: to make vegetarian, eliminate the sausage, use veggie broth and add zucchini, summer squash or eggplant. Also eliminate the cheese to make it vegan.HEALTH alert: to make it healthier, use turkey sausage and wheat pasta.