Comfort Food...Sunshine in a Bowl!

It's Super Bowl  Sunday. Two week ago our teem blew the conference championship game and didn't make it to today's game...so who cares? I'm pouting. Plus, we are in the middle of a snow storm with the wind blowing snow horizontally past the windows. If you are like me, you may be in need of a little comfort today.

For better or worse , food always seems to lift our spirits, kind of like sunshine does---so why not make it something good for you!

How about a little sunshine in a bowl?  Here is one of my favorite soup recipes; Italian Sausage Soup. It is loaded with vegetables and it is easy to adjust to a vegetarian diet too.

Ingredients
1 pound Italian sausage (mild or hot depending on your taste)
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cloves minced garlic
1-2 teaspoon dried  Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 teaspoon salt (to taste)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
EXTRA Heat?  Add 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or 1 dried chopped cayenne pepper
1 quart  (4 cups) tomato sauce
1 quart (4 cups) beef or vegetable broth
1 1/2 cups diced tomatoes (15 oz can)
1 cup garbanzo beans
1 cup sliced carrots
1 1/2 cups sliced zucchini (about 2 small)
1 cup sliced mushrooms
2 cups baby spinach (whole or coarsely chopped)
1 cup  cooked pasta (optional)

Directions:
1.  Brown sausage in a frying pan. Place cooked sausage on paper towel to drain excess fat.  Drain fat from the pan too--but add about 1/4 cup of water.  Stir to loosen all of the brown bits on the bottom of the pan and add to the soup broth (it will add tons of flavor!)
2. Saute onion and garlic in olive oil until tender.
3. Add broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, spices, sausage and carrots and mushrooms.  Bring up to a boil, reduce to simmer and cook until carrots are almost tender.
4. Add garbanzo beans and zucchini. The zucchini cooks quickly and only needs a few minutes.
5. Stir in the fresh spinach. It will wilt quickly.
6. Last step.... TASTE and adjust the spices. This is such an important step.  Add more salt, pepper, Italian seasoning or pepper flakes. Just remember to add a little at a time. Then allow the soup to rest for a least 10 minutes for the flavors have time to blend.

Ladle into a bowl with a spoonful of fresh pasta and enjoy!