(Picture credit - Pinterest)
Greta’s Red & Green Christmas Soup
& a Poem
It was just this last week that we had a good rain. Here on the California's Central Coast we welcomed it! I was in Morro Bay seeing my hair stylist, Greta. (Who by the way has a lot of job security!!) She told me the story of this lovely Red & Green Christmas Soup. Well if I could have made it right there I would have! Perfect for this wonderful season. This recipe is a beautiful and filling soup, perfect for a brisk picnic day or for a cozy Christmas Day! It gets its name from the colors of the red tomatoes and the green spinach! Perfect for a potluck where others can bring a favorite bread and a dessert to share. Don’t forget to put the music on, have a fire going!
Ingredients:
1 pkg. Italian (sweet) sausage
1 cup chopped onions
2 tsp. minced garlic
2 cans chicken broth (soup can size)
1 large can diced tomatoes
2 regular sized cans drained cannellini beans
1 package spinach leaves
2 tsp. chopped fresh oregano
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil
Grated parmesan cheese (optional)
Directions:
Brown 1 pkg. Italian (sweet) sausage. For less fatty version us turkey Italian (sweet) sausage.- this sausage comes in links and you cut the meat out of the casing and break or cut up in pieces before browning in the pan.
When meat is browned add the following: 1 cup chopped onions, 2 tsp. minced garlic. Cook until onion is translucent (Note: I used the reg Italian sweet sausage and at this point I tilted the pan a little to let any fat run to one side of the pan and I removed it before adding the next ingredients)
Add 2 cans chicken broth (reg. soup can size), 1 large can diced tomatoes and 2 reg. size cans drained cannellini beans (could also use cans of great northern beans). Cook 3-5 minutes. (At this point you could turn off heat and hold the soup up to one hour)
When ready to serve bring up the heat then remove from heat and stir in: 1 pkg. Fresh spinach leaves, 2 tsp. chopped fresh oregano, 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil. Stir until the spinach, oregano and basil are limp.
Serve topped with grated Parmesan cheese and your favorite crusty bread!
A wanted to share this lovely poem with all of you as my beautiful neighbor Dianna shared it with me. I think it would be perfect to read while enjoying this delicious soup!
Once In A Manger
Once in a manger, a long time ago, before there was Santa and reindeer and snow, a star shone down on humble beginnings below of a baby just born who the world would soon know. Never before had there been such a sight. Would the Son of a King have to suffer this plight? Aren’t there armies to lead? Aren’t there battles to fight? Shouldn’t He conquer the world and demand His birthright? No, this frail little infant asleep in the hay would change the whole world with the words He would say. Not about power or demanding His way, but mercy and loving and forgiving God’s way. For only through humility would the battle be won as shown by the actions of God’s only true son. Who gave up His life for the sins of everyone, who saved the whole world when his journey was done. Many years have now passed since that night long ago and now we have Santa and reindeer and snow but down in our hearts the true meaning we know, it is the birth of that child that makes Christmas so. Tom Krause