Start to table…under one hour…

ITALIAN SAUSAGE SOUP

Fast, hot, easy…your family will love it and it’s a great way to sneak some veggies past the kids.  (Okay…you can see the veggies, but they’ll want to eat them!)  Serve with garlic bread for the family and a quick Caesar  Salad for an “Italian” meal that will be a hit.

This freezes great – so don’t worry about there being too much.  As with any soup, it’s also better as leftovers!

To make it vegetarian sub out the real sausage for the Boca Italian Sausages…(photo below…).  So good!

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1 tablespoon olive oil
One pound turkey Italian sausage – I use sweet (or Boca for vegetarian)
One clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon Splenda
Two carrots, sliced
Two 14-ounce cans low-sodium beef broth
One 14-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
One 15-ounce can Cannellini beans, drained
One zucchini, cubed
2 cups fresh spinach, torn
Fresh parmesan cheese for garnish

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In a large saucepan brown sausage and garlic in olive oil. Stir in Splenda, carrots, broth, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add beans and zucchini. Return to simmer, uncovered for 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add spinach and cook for 2 minutes. Serve with parmesan cheese, if desired. Makes approx Eight 1-cup servings.

Per Serving: Calories 151; Protein 13 g; Fat 5 g; Carbs 9 g; Sugar 2 g; Sodium 406 mg

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Thick and filling…

WHITE BEAN & SWEET ITALIAN TURKEY SAUSAGE SOUP

This soup is creamy, slightly spicy and full of nutritious goodies. With lots of protein and complex carbs, it’s the perfect lunch to pack or an easy week-night meal.

Serve to your family with a crisp green salad and some crusty, warm whole grain rolls.

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1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large red pepper, diced
1/2 pound Sweet Italian turkey sausage, bulk or if using links, casings removed
1 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon sage
1/4 teaspoon rosemary
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Two 15-ounce can Cannellini beans (white kidney beans), drained and divided
1/2 cup frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1/2 cup fat-free half & half
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish

In a stockpot heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add onions, garlic, and red pepper and sauté until onions are tender. Stir in sausage and cook until no longer pink. Add basil, oregano, sage, rosemary, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Stir in chicken broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes.

With a fork coarsely mash the beans from one can. Add to broth mixture. Stir in remaining can of beans, spinach, and fat-free half & half. Allow to simmer for 10 minutes. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Makes approx. 8 one-cup servings.

Per Serving: Calories 280; Protein 17 g; Fat 10 g; Carbs 16; Sugar 3 g; Sodium 893 mg

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