I adapted this recipe from a farmgirl's dabbles.
Ingredients for the soup:
-2 tsp olive oil
-1 lb. Italian or breakfast sausage {I used breakfast sausage, its milder for my little ones}
-2 large onions, chopped
-4 garlic cloves, minced
-2 tsp dried oregano
-2 tsp dried basil
-1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
-6 oz. can tomato paste
-about 3 cups fresh tomatoes, peeled and roughly chopped OR 28 oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes
-a couple of dashes liquid smoke, optional if not using fire roasted canned tomatoes
-2 bay leaves
-6 cups chicken stock {I used water and chicken bouillon}
-8 oz. dry pasta (1 cup)
-salt and pepper to taste
Cheesy Bottom:
-8 oz. ricotta
-1/2 cup grated Parmesan
-1/4 tsp salt
-pinch freshly ground pepper
Process:
1. Brown sausage in skillet, drain in colander and rinse off excess grease. Return sausage to skillet, add olive oil, onion and garlic and cook over medium-low heat until fragrant and onion just starts to turn transparent.
2. Meanwhile to peel fresh tomatoes (skip this step if using canned tomatoes): fill a large pot about half way with water, bring to a boil. Cut a shallow "X" in the bottom of all of your fresh tomatoes. Once the water is boiling, carefully drop tomatoes into the water for about 30 seconds; remove tomatoes from water, allow to cool a little, peel skin from tomatoes and roughly chop.
3. In crock-pot combine chicken broth, oregano, basil and crushed red pepper.The yellow chunks are the chicken bouillon, it dissolves better in hot water. |
5. Add bay leaves to crock.
6. Add salt and pepper to crock.
7. Mix well.
8. Mix in meat mixture and tomato paste. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.
9. While soup is cooking in a small bowl mix all 'Cheesy Bottom' ingredients. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
10. About 20-30 minutes before serving pour dried pasta into soup and mix thoroughly. And stir occasionally to prevent pasta from sticking to each other.
11. To serve: Remove bay leaves and place a spoonful of the 'Cheesy Bottom' in the bottom of each of your serving bowls and top with the warm delicious soup.
12. Enjoy!
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