Friend of Julie: Spinach, Celery, Sausage Soup

Anonymous posted this recipe and said: I wanted to share this recipe with you. I found it in the Costco cook book. I added the garlic and onions. Everyone loves it. It is legal and I eat it for breakfast too.

Spinach, Celery, and Sausage Soup

• 16 ounces any kind of sausage links
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 (14 ½ ounce) cans diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano
• 2 cups thinly sliced celery hearts with leaves
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 cups Metz fresh Cello bagged spinach leaves
• 4 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
• 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh basil (optional)
• 1 onion chopped
• 2-3 garlic cloves chopped

1. Heat a large saucepan or soup pot over medium, heat. 
2. Remove casings from sausage; add sausage to the pan and cook, stirring to crumble, for 10 minutes, or until browned. 
3. Drain and return sausage to the pan.
4. Add broth, tomatoes, celery, and salt and pepper to taste to the pan; bring to a boil over high heat. 
5. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and stir in spinach until wilted. 
7. Sprinkle each serving with cheese and basil, if desired. 

Note: this recipe included pasta, but since we don't eat pasta during the weight loss phase, I removed it from the recipe along with the suggestion to serve with bread. 

-- Theresa