Zuppa Toscana

(Soup of Tuscany) Zuppa Toscana Soup is wonderful; potatoes, Italian sausage, kale, onions, bacon, and cream make for a delicious and hearty soup. This is the real thing . . .

Makes 8 / PREP: 15 minutes / TOTAL: 60 minutes

Ingredients

1 pound Italian sausage 1 tsp crushed red pepper 1 large chopped onion 2 cloves garlic, minced bag - Oscar Meyer Real Bacon Bits - 3oz bag ( these are less fatty than real bacon ) 2 14.5 ounce cans chicken broth tsp fennel seeds 2 cups chopped kale or Swiss chard 1 cup heavy whipping cream

Preparation
1. Brown sausage and crushed red pepper, drain and set aside 2. Place onions in a large saucepan and cook over medium heat until onions are almost clear 3. Add garlic to the onions and cook an additional 1 minute 4. Add potatoes, chicken broth and garlic and cook on medium heat until potatoes are done. 5. Add sausage, bacon, fennel, salt & pepper to taste, and simmer for another 10 minutes . . . 6. Turn to low heat; add kale & cream - heat thoroughly and serve. Note - up to 1 additional quart of water or chicken broth can be added to thin broth