Ingredients:
1lb Italian Sausage (turkey or chicken will work as well, I prefer hot)
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 small onion diced
3 garlic cloves minced
2 medium carrots sliced
2 celery stalks chopped
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup ditalini pasta
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 cups fresh spinach chopped
salt and pepper to taste
fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Directions:
1) Cook the sausage. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the sausage breaking it into crumbles and cook until browned. Remove the sausage from the pot and set aside.
2) Saute the vegetables. In the same pot add diced onion, minced garlic, sliced carrots, and chopped celery. Saute until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
3) Add broth and herbs. Pour in the chicken broth then stir in the oregano and basil. Bring to a boil.
4) Add the ditalini pasta to the boiling broth and cook for about 8 minutes or until the pasta is tender but firm.
5) Lower the heat to medium. Stir in the cooked sausage, heavy cream and grated parmesan cheese. Simmer for 5 minutes, allowing soup to thicken slightly.
6) Stir in fresh spinach until it wilts into the soup, season with salt and pepper to taste.