Recipe: A Favorite since 2009

I have been making this recipe since 2009 and I love it.  Unfortunately lately I have not been able to find Jimmy Dean Bold sausage so most reciently used Jimmy Dean Hot sausage and it was still preaty good.  I think if you use another type of sausage you will need to add some spices because the Jimmy Dean gives it that needed boost.  I'm also not a fan of sausage that has a strong fennel taste so I avoid regular sweet or hot sausage that I've found has this flavor.  On my list is making my own sausage starting with ground pork so I can make a sausage with the flavors of my liking.   The original recipe came from Cuisine at Home, page 34.

LASAGNA SOUP
Fry:
1 lb. Jimmy Dean Bold sausage
Add, saute 12 minutes:
2 C. (1 lg.) onion, chopped
1 C. (15) baby carrots, sliced
Add, saute 6 minutes:
2 C. (16 oz.) mushrooms, sliced
2 T. garlic, minced
Add and bring to a boil:
4 cans (14.5 oz. each) chicken broth
1 (14.5 oz.) can stewed tomatoes, cut up in can
15-16 oz. tomato sauce
Add pasta and simmer till pasta is cooked:
2 C. campanella pasta
Stir in:
9-10 oz. fresh baby spinach
Topping:
¼ C. Parmesan cheese, shredded

Brown sausage in a large stock pot, remove and drain on a paper towel lined bowl. Chop onions, slice carrots, mushrooms and mince garlic. To stock pot add onions and carrots; sauté 12 minutes until onions are almost translucent. Add mushrooms and garlic and sauté another 6 minutes. Add broth, stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce and cooked sausage. Bring to a boil. Add pasta and simmer on medium low until pasta is cooked about 7 minutes or according to package directions. Stir in spinach and cook until wilted. Add soup to bowl, top with a sprinkle of Parmesan.

Serving Suggestion: Salad with creamy dressing and garlic bread.

Reheat: If soup doesn’t have enough liquid the second time around add more chicken broth.

Do Ahead: Leave out the pasta until you are ready to reheat, then add the pasta and heat up for at least 10 minutes.

Note: If you can’t find Jimmy Dean bold sausage you will need to add spices to liven it up (parsley, pepper, oregano, etc.). Don’t be tempted to add more than the 2 cups of pasta because although it may not seem like it, it is plenty. If you are trying to eat less pasta reduce it to 1C.

Variation: Pantry Version: 2 (4 oz.) can’s sliced mushrooms and a 10 oz. box frozen spinach – microwave for 3 min and squeeze out water.