Sausage Soup

This soup recipe is a new one that I’m trying out tonight.  When I found it in one of my mom’s cookbooks called “Hooks and Slices”, it reminded me of the sausage soup at Olive Garden (which I LOVE).  I just had to try it.  I haven’t tasted it yet, but it smells amazing!

Here’s what you’ll need:
1 lb sweet Italian sausage
1 lb hot Italian sausage
1 c onion chopped
2 large zucchini, chopped small
2 (28 oz) cans tomatoes
1 c celery, sliced
2 c chicken broth
1 Tbsp basil
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt to taste

Remove sausage from casings; pull apart into small pieces. (I used my kitchen shears to make short work of this yucky task.) Saute until no pink shows. Remove from pan and drain. Saute other vegetables (in the same pan), one at a time, starting with the onion, then zucchini and finally the celery. (You may have to add a little bit of olive oil to saute them.) Combine all ingredients in a crock pot. Turn on HIGH for the first hour, then turn down and simmer for 6-8 hours on LOW. This recipe serves 6-8.