Yummy Soup

So today I thought I'd share a recipe for a soup that I made for last night's midweek Lent dinner. It's adapted from a Rachael Ray recipe that you can find here: Sausage-and-Broccoli Rabe Stoup. I substituted the broccoli rabe for kale since I couldn't find any and it tasted great. For those of you unfamiliar with her recipes she calls something thicker than a soup but thinner than a stew a "stoup".
On with the recipe!

Sausage and Kale Stoup

1 large or 2 smaller bunches of Kale
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 package of italian sausage links (usually 5 to a package - I use mild, but if you want it a little spicier,    hot would taste really good I think)
1 large onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped (or 2 big teaspoonfuls of minced)
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
4 cups chicken stock/broth
1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 15 oz. can cannellini beans, rinsed
Salt and pepper to taste
Parmesan cheese for topping

Optional: 1 1/2 cups short cut pasta


In a soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, crumbling with a spoon, until browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the onion and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Season with the nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste. Add the chicken stock, tomatoes and their juices and 2 cups water; cover and bring to a boil. Stir in the white beans and kale and return to a boil. At this point the soup is done.
If you are adding pasta you would add it now and cook stirring occasionally until the pasta is done. The first time I made the soup I added pasta and it did come out really thick. If you want it a little soupier just add in a bit more water. 


If you are planning on freezing this I would cook like above but leave out the kale and pasta and add those in when you reheat it.


Enjoy :-)

A Beginning

I have decided to start this blog mainly so that I can have a central place to post all my craft/sewing attempts and successes. I also thought I might share recipes that I enjoy. There will probably be some posts about family life and cute things my daughter does as well. I'm a mom so I don't think I can get away from that.

Most of the people that read this will probably already know me, but for those of you that stumble upon this randomly, I am an LCMS Lutheran, wife to my wonderful husband of almost 4 years named Marc, and stay at home mom of one adorable preschooler named Becca. I enjoy all kinds of crafts and love to cook as well. I have been cross-stitching since I was about 5 and also sew by hand and machine. I have just started learning to knit and crochet and I am enjoying them both.

Just recently I am working on several projects. I made a batch of burp rags, bibs, and pacifier clips for a friend who is due in april. I will post photos after I get them mailed and they actually get them. Don't want to spoil the surprise ;-)

I am also in the process of making my first quilt to be given to one of my nephews, a very special Little Man :-) Here is a teaser:

I also just finished making a stuffed owl for my daughter. She picked out the colors she wanted and we went and picked out the fabric together. She seems to really enjoy it. The pattern came from this tutorial.

She was very specific about wanting it to have blue eyes.

I also am working on a crocheted headband that is going to be this one but with this type of closure

I'm also thinking of making a version with a shamrock instead of a bow. We'll see if I can get it done before next thursday so I can wear it for St. Patrick's Day!

So anyway, let me know what you think of the blog. Do you guys like the title? I really thought about it for a long time and could not come up with anything. Then I was thinking of some of my favorite pieces of poetry. The idea came from one of Shakespeare's sonnets. There is a line that says " Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds". So "A love not altered" applies to me in several ways. The main way is in God's unaltered love for us. The second is the love I have for my family and friends.

I have just looked at the time and realized just how late it is so for now I am signing off. Good night all. Talk to you all soon.