Andouille Sausage and Sweet Potato Soup #recipe

Andouille sausage is a spicy sausage that I learned to love on trips to Louisiana. Its smoky heat is the prefect the base to my Andouille sausage and sweet potato soup. One pound of Andouille is going to flavor this whole pot of soup, it’s some strong stuff, but by relying on that rich flavor we are going to get a really great pot of soup with very little work. Because we are relying heavily on flavor of the sausage this is not the time to buy yucky sausage, go for the good stuff with lots spice and high quality meat. If you don’t like Andouille you could easily adapt this soup to another rich sausage, I think some of the boutique smoked chicken sausages I see in the store might be a great option. If you try one drop me a comment and tell me how it worked out.

This is a big pot of soup but sausage and beans are so affordable that I almost can’t believe I got 6-8 meals out of such a small investment. The escarole was on special at the farmers market when I went this week so it was even a bargain. You could replace the escarole with your favorite dark leafy green like chard, kale or anything else that is readily available in your area. Lastly, if you home make chicken stock like I do feel free to use it in this soup, but this is a recipe where it’s not really necessary the rich flavor of the Andouille sausage will make canned broth taste excellent. I served this dinner with a crusty French bread and a spicy red wine but I think a dark beer would have been a nice option too.

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I believe that all home cooks should know that they can cook better than most restaurants. There is nothing coming out of the kitchens of large chain casual dining restaurants that home cooks can’t make better and often cheaper at home. Not only will the home cooked food taste better its healthier most of the time too. Empowering people to cook great food at home is also about building a family culture that revolves around sitting down to eat together and share more than just food.

I have affectionately called my situation the “insta-family” I went from single working girl to stay at home step-mom of two teen girls pretty fast. I have been learning a lot about managing a house and family in the last year or two and I love all of it. I try and feed my family well we have simple and quick breakfasts, easy to pack lunches, and healthy dinners. Much of what we eat you might see on a menu at a restaurant but in our house it tastes better and the wine is affordable. I try to use fresh and local ingredients when practical, but sometimes I only have time for a quick run to the grocery store to get the basics. I include whole gains in everything from pizza dough to oatmeal cookies, and have managed to lower my husband’s cholesterol over 70 points and counting. Eating well is a luxury that I think every family can afford; it’s also an opportunity to spend time together that every family can’t afford to miss. ~ Michelle