Tuscan Soup

Adapted from Allrecipes.com

12 oz Italian sausage
8 cups water
2 tbsp vegetable broth powder
2 tbsp onion soup mix
4 large potatoes, cubed
salt and pepper to taste
1 bunch fresh spinach, washed and chopped
8 oz penne pasta

Brown sausage in frying pan.  In large pot, combine sausage, water, broth powder, soup mix and potatoes.  Cook on medium heat until potatoes are just tender, about 20-30 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.

Meanwhile cook pasta according to package directions, until al dente.  Drain.

Add spinach and pasta to soup.  Continue cooking until spinach is lightly cooked, about 5-10 minutes more.

Delicious Ham and Potato Soup

If you use Russet potatoes, they will break down and it will thicken the soup considerably.  I used Yukon Gold. They held their shape and it was more soup like.

3½ cups potatoes, peeled and diced
1/3 cup celery, diced
1/3 cup onion, finely chopped (or 2 tbsp dried onion)
¾ cup cooked ham, diced
3¼ cups water
2 tsp vegetable broth powder
½ tsp salt, or to taste
¼ tsp ground white or black pepper, or to taste
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 cups milk (or 1 cup if using Yukon Gold)

Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, ham, water, broth powder, and salt and pepper in a stockpot. Bring to boiling and cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.

In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour and cook stirring constantly until thick, about 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk. Continue stirring over medium-low heat until thick, 4 to 5 minutes.

Stir the milk mixture into the stockpot and cook soup until heated through. Serve immediately with warm rolls.

Chicken Noodle Soup

This is a delicious and easy soup. Very good on cold nights...mmmm....

2 chicken breasts
2 chicken bouillon cubes
2 cups carrots, chopped
2 cups celery, chopped
¾ onion, chopped
1 can evaporated milk
2-3 cups egg noodles
Salt and pepper

Boil chicken in 2 quarts of water until tender. Remove chicken and add carrots, celery and onion. Cook until tender.

Add milk. Cube chicken and add to mixture. Add noodles. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook until noodles are soft.