The fall and winter seasons are great times to try new stews and soups.  This is one of my mom’s favorite soup recipes and she just loves it!  So, one weekend when Cook was away I decided to make this simple soup.  It combines one of my ingredients, fennel bulb, with the warmth and comfort of soup.

Enjoy!

What you need:

1 lb. sweet Italian sausage

1 bulb fennel

3/4 cup onions (diced)

1-1/2 tsp minced garlic

3 Tbs. olive oil

14-1/2 oz. can of diced tomatoes

14-1/2 oz can of crushed tomatoes

4 cups of chicken broth

3/4 cups of orzo

2 cups fresh spinach, stemmed and torn into small pieces

salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

Asiago cheese for garnish

What to do:

In large skillet, saute sausage until well browned, breaking into smaller pieces. Drain sausage and set aside. Cut off top of fennel. Wash and dice white part of bulb. Saute fennel onion, and garlic in olive oil until onions are soft and translucent. Add diced tomatoes crushed tomatoes, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 25 minutes. Add sausage and orzo and cook until orzo is just done. Add spinach and cook another 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with Asaigo cheese. Serves 12.