Winter Kale and Sausage Soup

Winter, you vindictive beyatch. Overkill much? But it’s OK – at least this weather keeps me in the kitchen longer so I can come up with new recipes, like the Winter Kale and Sausage Soup I am gong to share with you.

I actually don’t mind winter, and there are some things I actually love about it, even while I wish it would end:

• Light and fluffy snow that’s fun to flop around in, and is easy to shovel, too.
• Endless snow days from school, allowing for lots of baking, sledding, and binge-watching of Modern Family.
• Facebook friends who specialize in photos of the subject “My Deck in Winter”
• SOUP! Especially this Winter Kale and Sausage Soup. 

There is so much going on in this soup –  kale, sausage, cannellini beans, carrots, orzo. It’s like eating a bowl of Superhero Porridge. SMASH! No more hunger. POW! What freezing temps? BLAM! Goodbye winter blues. All that’s left is an empty bowl, a full tummy, and enough fuel to shovel the whole driveway. AGAIN.

I figured the best stage for this photo shoot of a classic winter soup would be smack dab in winter wonderland. Terrible lighting, really, but check out the snow bank in the background (Do not try this at home, m’kay? Leave the mediocre extreme photos to me. Just eat it and be happy).
Winter Kale and Sausage Soup
Serves 8

Prep time: 20 minutes     Cook time: 25 minutes

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
3 Italian sausage links, casings removed, & crumbled (9-10 ounces of sausage)
1 garlic clove, chopped
8 cups chicken broth
4 small carrots, diced
1- 15 ounce can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
3/4 cup uncooked orzo
2-3 cups kale, rinsed, de-stemmed, and chopped

Heat oil over medium high heat. Sauté onion 2-3 minutes, then add sausage crumbles. Continue to cook for a few minutes more, until sausage is browned. Next, add garlic and cook 1 minute more.

After that, add broth, carrots, beans, and thyme. Cover and bring to a boil. Turn heat to low and add orzo. Cover and allow to simmer until orzo is done (about 10 minutes). Finally, add kale and cook for a few minutes more. Taste and adjust for seasoning.

ENJOY!