Tuscan White Bean Soup

I received samples from Swanson® for review purposes. The opinions stated in this post are my own.

My attention is being steadily averted by the window to my left. It's mid-November, therefore the fact that fat, lazy snowflakes are falling steadily from a pale sky should not be surprising. Yet here I sit, shaking my head in disbelief at the six inches lining the shoveled path in front of the house. I wasn't ready for it. Honestly, it seems like last year's snow just finished melting.

My initial reaction aside, it's kind of comforting. I mean, as a child of the Midwest, a good snowfall does conjure up images of crackling fires, piles of cozy blankets, steaming mugs of hot chocolate, and big pots of soup to warm your bones after a day of sledding, fort building, and snowball fights.

So, when the folks at Swanson contacted me to see if I'd be interested in trying an assortment of their products, I was more than happy to put the broths and stocks to use warming up my kitchen. Swanson is a name that already appears on containers and cans in my pantry, so I was already a fan of their products. I use a lot of stock and broth, and while I do make my own, I don't make enough to keep up with what I go through. I especially like their seafood stock, since that's something I rarely make myself.

But I had not tried their cream starters or flavor-infused broths yet, so some experimenting was in order. There's a loaded baked potato soup, some clam chowder, and either a gumbo or jambalaya soup on my menu plan over the next month (using the two cream starters and the Louisiana Cajun Flavor Infused Broth). But today I'm sharing something made with their Tuscan Chicken variety.

When I think Tuscan White Bean Soup, visions of a thicker, creamier soup infused with garlic and rosemary immediately comes to mind. But when trying to decide where to start with the broth, I found a brothier version of this soup on the back of the carton. Italian sausage and kale join the beans in a broth that's infused with the robust flavors of rosemary, sage, thyme, lemon, onion, and garlic. Yeah, I needed to start there.

I'm loving these flavor-infused broths. Wait, is broths (plural) a word? Anyhoo... Having a few cartons at hand in the pantry make it super simple to bring flavor to not only soups, but rice, noodles, veggies, braises, and so much more.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to heat myself up a bowl of this soup with I give in to the pull of the window.

Tuscan White Bean Soup

Creamy cannellini beans, hearty Italian sausage, and ribbons of nutrient-rich kale mingling in a Tuscan flavor infused broth. This soup will warm your bones on a chilly day.

by Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez

Prep Time: 5-10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Keywords: simmer soup/stew dairy-free nut-free soy-free sugar-free beans kale sausage

Ingredients (serves 4-6)

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 12 ounces lean Italian sausage (bulk or removed from casings)
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 small bunch kale, stemmed and cut into thin strips
• 3/4 cup white wine
• 1 (32 ounce) carton Swanson® Tuscan Flavor Infused Broth
• 1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, optional

Instructions

Heat olive oil in a saucepot over medium-high heat. Add sausage and onions and cook until well browned. Add the kale and cook for another3-5 minutes, until wilted and tender. There shouldn't be any fat left in the bottom of the pot since you're using lean sausage, but if there is, go ahead and pour it off.

Add the wine to the pan, and cook for another 2 minutes (it will basically evaporate). Pour in the broth and the beans. Bring back to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer. Allow to cook very gently for 10 minutes. Stir in parsley, if using.

note:

Serve with crushed red chile flakes and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if you like.

-slightly adapted from Swanson

GIVEAWAY

Swanson® has generously offered one of my readers a soup prize pack identical to the one I received. The prize pack includes:

• One elegant, white soup tureen 
• 4 white soup bowls 
• 4 chevron cloth napkins
• One carton of each of the following Swanson products: Swanson Chicken Broth, Swanson Chicken Stock, Swanson Cream Starter Traditional, Swanson Cream Starter 25% Reduced Fat, Swanson Flavor Infused Louisiana Cajun Broth, Swanson Flavor Infused Tuscan Chicken Broth

Is this something that would come in handy in your kitchen and at your table? To enter to win, simply answer this question in the comments section below:

What is the last kind of soup that you made (or ate)?

After you've commented with your answer, be sure to record  your entry in the rafflecopter widget below. There are many other optional ways to enter (you do not have to complete every single one to be entered, each thing you do earns you a separate entry into the contest).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to residents of the USA only. Submissions will be accepted through 11:59 pm ET on Thursday, November 20, 2014. One winner will be chosen via random draw and notified via email within 48 hours of the close of this contest, and given 24 hours in which to respond. If no response is received within that time frame, a new winner will be chosen. All entries will be verified for authenticity; boxes marked without entry requirements being completed will result in disqualification.

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