Zuppa Tuscanna (Like Olive Garden)

½ pound of bacon fried crisp and crumbled

6 Italian sausages (I use hot – remove skin)

3 diced onions (about 3 C)

2 Tb Olive Oil

6 teas minced garlic
8 C Water

2 Tb chicken base

4 lg. potatoes, cubed

2 C chopped kale

1 C heavy whipping cream

Add red pepper flakes, salt and pepper as desired (I didn't add these as the meat and chicken base was plenty spicy and salty)

In a soup pot fry the bacon (I cut up the bacon with scissors before frying to save on crumbling the hot bacon), add the chunks of sausage, stir and fry until brown.  Drain the oil.  Add olive oil if needed.  Throw in diced onions.  Stir all this until onions are tender and meat is cooked thoroughly.   Use a little bit of oil to sauté these if you are not using the bacon drippings.    Add water, garlic, chicken base (GFS sells a nice base) and potatoes.  Simmer until potatoes are soft.  Add whipping cream, kale and seasoning as desired, simmer and serve.

Makes lots, 8 - 10 bowls I figure.