Sausage Kale Soup & DIY Panini Bar

This post is written by me on behalf of Tyson Foods, Inc. All opinions are entirely my own. This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. #LoveThisHolidayTwist #CollectiveBias

Our favorite way to entertain a crowd in the winter is to have a big pot of soup simmering and then put out our panini press and all the fixins. This let’s me visit with our family and friends without being tied to the kitchen. We’ve done this for holidays, birthdays, and dinner company more times than I can count. Sausage Kale Soup is my favorite soup to have on those occasions. It is hearty and filling and warms your belly on cold nights.

This is a great way to entertain for Christmas or New Year’s. My guests have always loved the opportunity to make their own custom hot sandwiches and it lets me spend more time with them.

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This is a simple but delicious way to feed a crowd. It took me about 30 minutes to make the soup, cook the bacon, and set everything out. Purchasing a few ingredients at Walmart and putting together this easy spread helps you spend more time with your loved ones.

I’ve learned over the years not to try complicated new recipes when I have company coming I want to impress. There is always a chance they won’t work. It is best to keep things simple on holidays and use tried and true recipes and quality ingredients like these ones from Tyson Foods.

I used Jimmy Dean® Roll Sausage in my soup and cooked up some Wright®  Brand Bacon Hickory Smoked to use in the sandwiches. I love using Jimmy Dean® Roll Sausage in recipes because I get a little grossed out squeezing sausage out of casings. This way there is no waste and no squeezing required.

You can find both products in the Packaged Deli section of Walmart.

The Wright® Brand Bacon Hickory Smoked is great for sandwiches. It is thick cut so you get that great bacon flavor in every bite. I just cook it on a cookie sheet in the oven so it’s completely hands off. And having your house smell like bacon when the guests walk in is never a bad thing. They will inevitably say, “Wow, something smells good!”

Making the Sausage Soup is really easy. You just put the sausage in the pot with the onions and garlic. Cook until the sausage is browned. I break it up using a potato masher. Add the other ingredients. Season and simmer. Done.

And this is how I cook the bacon. Isn’t that beautiful? My picky 5 year old’s favorite protein source is bacon. I normally sneak her an extra piece or two when no one is looking.

Sausage & Kale Soup – Low Carb, Grain Free, THM S

Ingredients:

1 tsp olive oil

2 pounds Jimmy Dean® Roll Sausage

1 large onion, chopped

12 cloves of garlic, chopped

1 large can diced tomatoes in juice

6 cups chicken stock

1 can cannellini beans (optional)

16 oz bag frozen kale

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions:

Drizzle the olive oil in a large stock pot set on medium heat. Add the Jimmy Dean® Roll Sausage, onions, and garlic. Cook until the sausage is fully cooked. I use a potato masher to break the sausage into small pieces.

Add the other ingredients. Bring to a simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Do It Yourself Panini Bar:

Bread – I used sprouted grain bread and a batch of Nuke Queen Bread made with 5 whole eggs and cooked in an 8×8 pan

Deli Meat – Ham, Turkey, Salami, etc.

Crispy Cooked Bacon

Cheeses – Mozzarella, Muenster, Provolone, Cheddar, etc.

Tomatoes

Mayo, Mustard, etc.

Panini Press

Let me know what you’ll be making for Christmas and New Year’s in the comments.

You can visit the hub to learn about their products and see more recipes.