Speaking of food, I noticed that I forgot to post this last week. Who else is addicted to cooking just to photograph???
I found a recipe for the Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana & decided to give it a whirl. The end result was absolutely delicious & much better that the hurried composition of this shot.
It took about 1.5 hours to make & was pretty simple. Next time, I make it, I will modify the recipe slightly to make it healthier & substitute the Italian sausage for turkey sausage less cream & no bacon. Well, maybe I won’t mess up a good thing!
Ingredients:
– 1.5lb ground Italian sausage
– 1.5tsp crushed red peppers
– 3-4 leeks sliced?- 1 red pepper diced
– 2 tsp minced garlic?- 3 cups water
– 4 chicken broth
– 1 cup heavy cream
– 2lb sliced large potatoes
– Bunch of kale or collard greens (no stems, yuck!)
Procedure:
– Sautée Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in large pot or Dutch oven. Drain excess fat (I usually don’t, just depends
– In the same pot, sautée onions, red pepper, and garlic until the onions are soft
– Toss in your sliced potatoes
– Add your liquid, which should just about cover all the goods in the pot & bring to a nice boil (10 minutes)
– Add sea salt, fresh black pepper, red chili flakes, cumin (maybe your favorite secret spices as well)
– Turn your heat down to a low simmer for about an hour or hour & a half covered being sure to stir every so often.
– Add heavy cream and keep on heat until thoroughly heated
Serving:
– Chiffonade your collard greens of kale then toss in a nice amount to cover the bottom of your bowl.
– Pour in some of your hot soup into the bowl to cover your green, which will wilt the greens and make them tender yet they will still have some crunch to them. I usually let my hot soup sit for a few minutes.
– Enjoy!
My kids really enjoyed this & it made enough for a family of 5 for two nights.
Erica C. / March 10, 2008
Damn Byg! I haven’t eaten yet this morning!
This picture’s not helping one damn bit! *sigh*
Looks good!
Meikmeika / March 10, 2008
It looks really good!!! Everyone I know praises this soup from Olive Garden!!!
Bygbaby / March 11, 2008
Erica C – Sorry boo. LOL!!!
Meikmeika – It is the bomb & usually when I am sick, this is all that I will eat. Now that I know how to make it, I can save a trip. It has the perfect blend of flavors!
Bygbaby
Darius T. Williams / March 11, 2008
Yea – this looks good. Hey figure out a good recipe for hot pepper noodles w/chicken – you know – thai food and post it – lol. I can’t find a good recipe and the ones I have found don’t have pictures…you’re always cooking and taking pictures – lol.
MochaSiren / March 11, 2008
Hey Byg,
How you doin’? I’m new to your blog via Brunsli’s. Love it! You’re a stone trip and so talented! Anyway, I love Zuppa Toscana and always wanted to make it myself. As many times as I’ve had it at Olive Garden I don’t remember tasting any bacon. Did you add that? And if so, do you think it adds just that extra something??? Since I’m trying to trim down I would probably try turkey sausgae and/or turkey bacon too.
Bygbaby / March 11, 2008
DTW – Hook me up with a recipe & it is on!!! Mos Def.
Mochasiren – 1st of all, thx for hitting me up! The bacon was listed on the recipe of the soups creator so I just followed protocol. I also do not remember seeing the bacon but you know, it tastes the same.
Work that reduced fat alternative boo!!!
Bygbaby
James Tubman / March 12, 2008
you a chef man
you be throwing down bruh
if you aint you might have the wrong calling
Los Angelista / March 13, 2008
You are really throwing down lately, aren’t you! Are we going to have to get you to audition for the next season of Top Chef?
Invisible Woman / March 13, 2008
You get on my nerves Bygbaby—always making me work in the kitchen to try one of your recipes….I’m making this mug tonight, haha.
Do you like the taste of Bacos? They are soy and not pork. It may be worth a try to see if it works….
Bygbaby / March 13, 2008
James Tubman – Me a chef, LOL. I would get laughed out of the kitchen. I like plating but that will not pay the bills.
Liz – LOL, I watched To Chef last night & was thinking that I would never make it in the culinary world. They eat too much nasty shit. All that duck, beef & who knows what else. Watching previous season, I would get grossed out on most of the stuff they cook but cheered them on nevertheless. Everyone does not have the ghetto palate that I have. Shit, give me some fried ocean perch, kraft deluxe macaroni & peas & it’s on!
BTW, I knew that Black woman would leave first, I got a bad vibe from her. why in the hell would you put salt on seafood & the cauliflower shit looked like a hot damn mess!!!
Invisible Woman – All shit! You will have to do a IW cooks movie meals!!! let me know how yours came out.
I have never heard of Bacos. Do they hod up in texture & how artificial do they taste in your opinion?
Bygbaby
Torrance Stephens bka All-Mi-T / March 14, 2008
thts a good look and got me drooling, nd u garnished it too, gone w yo bad self folk
Invisible Woman / March 16, 2008
You can get Bacos at any supermarket; they come in a jar. They do really taste like bacon, but they are teeny bits.
I wouldn’t recommend cooking with them, but instead putting it on top of the soup in your bowl and mixing it in for flavor when you eat it.