One of the many reasons I love going home is the food my Momma makes! Sure, I love my family and spending time with them is always such a pleasure, but the food my Mother makes is Ah-Mazing! Heavenly! Delicious! Divine! (Is that enough adjectives to describe how I feel about this subject???)

Here is the recipe for the Super Delicious Zuppa Toscana (yes, that actually IS the name) that she made for us…. I pretty much demanded the recipe as soon as I tasted it!! My mother graciously obliged. She loves me!

Ingredients:
1 pound bulk mild Italian sausage
1 1/4 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
4 slices bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 large onion, diced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
5 (13.75 ounce) cans chicken broth
6 potatoes, thinly sliced
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 bunch fresh spinach, tough stems removed

Directions:
1. Cook the Italian sausage and red pepper flakes in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until crumbly, browned, and no longer pink, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. Cook the bacon in the same Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain, leaving a few tablespoons of drippings with the bacon in the bottom of the Dutch oven. Stir in the onions and garlic; cook until onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
3. Pour the chicken broth into the Dutch oven with the bacon and onion mixture; bring to a boil over high heat. Add the potatoes, and boil until fork tender, about 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the heavy cream and the cooked sausage; heat through.
4. Mix the spinach into the soup just before serving. (My Mother put it into the bowl first and then poured the hot soup on top of the spinach.) Serve with French bread. Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese on top for added pizzazz!