Sausage Potato Kale Soup

DIY a restaurant favorite!

1 lb Italian Sausage
¼ ~ ½ tsp red chili flakes (optional)
1 c chopped onion (1/2 a large onion or ¼ cup dried minced onion)
2 large potatoes, chopped (~2 cups)
2 c chicken broth
4 c water
2 cloves garlic, minced (½ tsp or more to taste)
1/3 c cooked bacon*
Salt and pepper
2 c chopped kale
1 c cream, milk, or ½ and ½

1. Brown sausage in a skillet, drain.
2. To a large pot add onion, potatoes, broth, water, garlic, red chili flakes. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer and cook until potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes.
3. Add cooked sausage, bacon, salt and pepper. Simmer 10 min.
4. Turn heat to low and add the chopped kale and cream or milk. Heat through until kale is softened. Serve with warm bread.

*Bake bacon in the oven on a foil lined cookie sheet at 400F for 10-12 minutes, checking regularly. Drain on paper towels and crumble