zuppa toscana

1+ hour

2 tablespoons olive oil
1- 1.5 lb spicy italian sausage, ground
1 small white onion, diced
3 tablespoons fennel seed
3 tablespoons mustard seed
1.5 tablespoons sea salt
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 large russet potatoes, diced into 1/2 inch cubes
6 cups broth, chicken or vegetable
4+ cups water
1 cup half and half
3 cups kale, chopped

in a large pot add oil and sausage browning both sides slightly before adding onion. add fennel, mustard, salt, pepper, cayenne, red pepper and garlic and coat meat and onions with spices. saute 3 minutes. add potatoes, coating as well. add broth and 4 cups of water. if you like a thinner soup you may more water. bring to a boil and turn heat down to simmer for 30 minutes or longer. about 10 minutes before serving add half and half.

place 1/2 cup of kale in the bottom of each bowl and top with soup. serve. yum.

this is my favorite soup and a staple around here. it is fairly spicy. they cayenne gives a nice little burn on the back of the throat so if that is not your thing, eliminate some of the spice.