Peasant Style Potato & Kale Soup

Last year on Halloween the weather was balmy.  This year we had winds blowing from the east and we even saw snow flakes.  Brrrr!  Since families begin the trick or treating adventure right around dinner time I chose something easy, hot and delicious to serve for.  It was wonderful to put your hands around a hot bowl of soup after being out in that weather!

Peasant Style Potato & Kale Soup

Serves 8

Ingredients:

1 12 oz. roll of Jones Breakfast sausage

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 onion, chopped

8 cups turkey or chicken stock (I used 3 Knorr Chicken Boullion cubes & 8 cups water)

8 potatoes ( I used 1 3lb. bag of Gourmet Potatoes that were on sale) peeled and sliced

6 cloves garlic, minced

1 bunch kale, trimmed, washed and thinly sliced ( The bag of chopped kale made this so easy! I just removed a few thick stems)

freshly ground black pepper, to taste

 

In a skillet cook the sausage, stirring often, until browned.  Set aside.  Here's where you can play around and make substitutions.  Use sweet or Italian sausage sausage if that's what your family likes.

In a heavy stockpot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and saute until softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add turkey or chicken stock, potatoes and garlic and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.

Use your potato potato masher to gently mash 1/2 - 3/4 of the potatoes. Return to a simmer. Stir in kale, a handful at a time. Simmer for 5 minutes, or until the kale is tender. Stir in the reserved sausage and season with salt and pepper.

It's good that this recipe serves 8 because we all went back for seconds!  I found there are so many versions of this Peasant Style Potato & Kale Soup on the internet.  What's your favorite way to prepare this soup?