Wednesday: Italian Sausage Soup

Pin It Now! Quick and Easy!!  This is a very easy dish to make with wonderful flavors.  I use Trader Joe's Sweet Chicken Sausage instead of Hot...kids like it better.  :)  I also buy regular diced tomatoes and add my own spices.  (fresh oregano, basil and minced garlic)  This is a great weeknight meal that will come together fast and taste great.  For kids who are picky about bits of tomatoes, you could sub just tomato sauce instead of the diced.


*Kid corner:  for older kids, you can have them help you add each ingredient to the pot as you cook.  Let them stir every now and then too.

• YIELD: 4 servings (serving size: 1 1/3 cups soup, 1 1/2 teaspoons cheese, and 1 1/2 teaspoons basil)
• COURSE: Soups/Stews

Ingredients

• 8 ounces hot or sweet turkey Italian sausage
• 2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano
• 1/2 cup uncooked small shell pasta
• 2 cups bagged baby spinach leaves
• 2 tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan or Romano cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Preparation

• Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Remove casings from sausage. Add sausage to pan, and cook about 5 minutes or until browned, stirring to crumble. Drain; return to pan.
• Add broth, tomatoes, and pasta to pan, and bring to a boil over high heat. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until pasta is done. Remove from heat; stir in spinach until wilted. Sprinkle each serving with cheese and basil.

Karen Levin, Cooking Light 
JULY 2004