Doug's Christmas Soup- Recipe from Alton Brown

Merry Christmas Soup

We invited two of my brothers and their significant others for a Christmas Soup Dinner before the 25th of December.  My husband's specialty seems to be making soups.  Well, not only making soups, but also cookies, main dishes, desserts, apple dumplings, cakes, pies.  Come to think of it, just about anything he tries!  He can not only find flavorful recipes, but he can also cook them to perfection.

This soup will warm you up on a cold winter's day.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. kielbasa, sliced 1/4-inch thick on bias
• Vegetable oil, as needed
• 8 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lb. red kidney beans, soaked at least 4 hours or overnight
• 2 qts. chicken broth
• 1 lb. red potatoes, cut into 1/2-in. cubes
• 6 ozs. fresh kale, about 4 handfuls
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Place the kielbasa into a 7-qt. Dutch oven and set over medium-low heat.  Cook until the kielbasa has browned well and rendered its fat, about 15 minutes.  If you do not have 2 tsps. of fat, add 2 tsps. vegetable oil to the pan. Remove kielbasa from the pan and set aside.

Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring to prevent burning.  Add the beans and the chicken broth and cook, covered, for 45 minutes.  After 45 minutes, add the potatoes, cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Wash, rinse, and trim the kale and tear into bite size pieces.  Add the kale to the pot, cover, and cook for 10 minutes or until tender.

Add the red wine vinegar and black pepper.

Ladle the soup into bowls and serve.

(from foodnetwork.com)
Printable version: Christmas Soup

Brown kielbasa over medium-low heat until well browned.

Rinse red beans that have been soaking 4 hours.

Add garlic and cook 1-2 minutes.

Add the chicken broth.

Add the beans.

Cook covered for 45 minutes.

Add the potatoes, cover and cook for 15 minutes.

Wash, rinse and trim the kale, removing the woody stems.

Add kale and cook 10 more minutes.

Add red wine vinegar and black pepper before ladling into serving bowls.

Yatzi and Gail

Doug, Yatzi, Gail, Keith and Ethyl

Merry Christmas!
Enjoy!