Friday's Fixin's - Potato, Sausage and Winter Green Soup

With another round of holiday dinners coming and another week of leftovers in sight, we thought we would pull out another favorite to have around when you just can't eat another sandwich.  When family and friends are popping in and out, it is always nice to have something around that will warm the belly and the heart to make everyone feel at home.  The best part is, this one won't make your belly pop out either.

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 leeks, chopped (white parts only)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 2 cups hard cured sausage, halved longways and thinly sliced (pepperoni or chorizo works best)
• 2 pounds (about 6 cups) potatoes, halved longways and thinly sliced
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups thinly sliced winter greens (kale or chard preferred)
• 1 teaspoon winter savory
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a deep stock pot and stir in the leeks until they become translucent.
2. Add the sausage and garlic and stir until the sausage is soft.
3. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil, scraping the bottom of the pan to break loose any caramel created by the leeks.
4. Add the potatoes, greens, savory, salt and pepper, then cook until the potatoes are as soft as you like.
5. Remove from heat and serve immediately or store covered in the refrigerator.

This is great straight off the stove, but even better after it has set a day or two.  For best results, reheat in the microwave or on the stove without bringing to a rapid boil.  The potatoes can be creamed like a traditional potato soup, but it is much heartier if you don't turn them to mush.  Thinly slicing them will keep you from having to boil them too much.  The broth will thicken a little from the potatoes, but you want to maintain more potato slices than greens to end up with a brothy soup.

This soup is great with a nice crusty bread, and topped with parmesan cheese.  If you still want that sandwich, it makes a nice side with turkey, ham or roast beef.  No matter how you serve it or who you serve it to, hopefully this will bring as much warmth to your family this holiday season as you have brought to ours.

*photo from muloala on Flickr.