Tuscany Peasant Soup

Ingredients

• 4 Italian sausages; mild (pref
• 1 celery; inner stalk, diced
• 3 zucchini; medium, thinly sli
• 1 Onion; small,
• 3 c beef stock
• 1 cn tomato sauce (8-oz)
• 2 ts Fresh basil; chopped or 1/2
• 1 salt and pepper to taste
• 1 Parmesan; grated or Roomano

Directions

1. Slice sausages 1/2" thick. Using a large saucepan, brown sausages. (If Turkey, spray pan first with vegetable spray.) Pour off any fat.
2. Add celery, zucchini and Onion. Saute 2 minutes, stirring.
3. Put stock, tomato sauce and basil into crockery pot and mix.
4. Heat on high (300) for 30 minutes. Add sausage-vegetable mixture to crockery pot.
5. Turn to low and cook 2–3 hours. salt and pepper to taste.
6. Ladle into bowls and garnish with grated Cheese.
7. Serve this hearty soup accompanied by garlic-buttered toasted French bread.