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Sausage Potato & Fennel Soup and an Easy Tablescape

By Lorraine

 After several days of heavy storms, a bowl of soup I saw recently on Mary’s lovely blog, One Perfect Bite, sounded just right.

 The teeming rain and wind broke many stems (even though I had staked and tied them) from my hydrangea just as they were beginning to open.  I brought them in and filled a silver teapot, tucking in fronds from the fennel.
This post was the hydrangeas before they wilted.
 You’ve often seen this little table in the family room.  With the older girls long gone and Abbey not home most evenings, John and I often have our supper here.
 Because of its size, with just a few accessories I can create a pretty tablescape.
A couple of  hand-me-down, blue transfer plates from Jamie matched my cast iron Dutch oven.
For added light, I grabbed the pineapple candle holders from the dining room table.  These too where something Jamie tired of and I happily accepted for my home.
Abbey saved me the blue bottles because she knows I like glass.  I filled them with lemon water.
The Fenton milk glass dish was my moms and here it holds bread and butter.
 Abbey made this beautiful pottery bowl in art class back in 2008. She gave it to my mom as a gift.
ready for a cozy meal together
So here is how to make this easy soup!
Sausage, Potato and Fennel Soup
slightly adapted from… One Perfect Bite courtesy of Fine Cooking magazine

PRINT RECIPE

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
3/4 pound sweet Italian sausage (about 4 links), casings removed (I substituted Brats)
1 large russet potato, peeled and cut into large dice (about 2 cups)
1 medium red onion, cut into large dice
1 small fennel bulb, trimmed, cored, and cut into large dice (about 2 cups), plus 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped fennel fronds for garnish
3 tablespoons dry sherry
4 cups lower-salt chicken broth
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley (I used about 1/8 cup)
1/4 cup chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained (I substituted bell pepper and added them with the onion)
2 tablespoons heavy cream (I used fat-free half & half)
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (I did not need additional salt)

Direction:
Heat oil in a 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook, stirring with a wooden spatula to break it up into small pieces, until it starts to brown, about 3 minutes. Stir in potato, onion, and fennel and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to soften, about 2 minutes. Add sherry and stir, scraping bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits, about 30 seconds.

Stir in chicken broth and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, 10 to 12 minutes.

Add parsley, sun-dried tomatoes, heavy cream, and lemon zest and stir until incorporated.

Using spatula or a potato masher, gently crush cooked potatoes until most of them are mashed and stew is somewhat thickened. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Serve hot, garnished with fennel fronds.

Yield: 4 servings.
NOTE: I lightly mashed the potatoes leaving more bite-sized pieces.

prepare ingredients

brown sausage in oil
add potato, onion, and fennel; cook
add sherry
using spoon, stir, loosening browned bits from bottom of pot
Stir in chicken broth
Simmer
add parsley, lemon zest and  pepper 
and half & half
mash potatoes to desired consistency

Linking to Cuisine Kathleen’s Let’s Dish
   

Filed Under: Recipes, Soups & Stews Tagged With: soup

Comments

  1. Tiffany Victoria says

    June 28, 2013 at 9:23 pm

    That looks amazingly delicious!!!

    Reply
  2. Sweetladyelaine says

    June 28, 2013 at 12:00 am

    Your table for two is perfect! I love soup and yours looks wonderful! Thank you for sharing the recipe.
    Blessings My Friend,

    Reply
  3. Blackberry Lane says

    June 27, 2013 at 3:00 pm

    Looks delicious. So many special keepsakes to make your tablescape beautiful.

    Reply
  4. Kristina says

    June 27, 2013 at 11:57 am

    We love sausage and potato soup. I don't think my recipe has fennel in it. I'll have to try this. Thanks.

    Reply
  5. kitty says

    June 27, 2013 at 4:36 am

    What a cozy spot for the two of you, Lorraine. You've set it with such charm. I love all the blue with your lacy cloth. The soup sounds perfect for warming the soul.

    Reply
  6. Alycia Nichols says

    June 27, 2013 at 2:34 am

    You guys have the right idea with that table for 2! It's just the right size without a lot of unnecessary clean up afterwards!

    LOVE that Dutch oven! The color is just brilliant!

    I'm sorry the weather has taken its toll on some of your plantings. I know how that stings! Those you were able to bring in look so puffy and pretty!

    The soup looks fantastic! I can almost taste it…and that bread!

    Reply
  7. Marlis says

    June 27, 2013 at 2:29 am

    The soup looks wonderful.. however it's about 108 or so and soup isn't the answer!!! so I'm saving it for a cooler day come fall. Love your pretty setting. The lace and the blue plates just make me giddy with joy. It all looks so good. xo marlis

    Reply
  8. Mid-Atlantic Martha says

    June 27, 2013 at 1:12 am

    What a sweetly cozy spot for some wonderful homemade soup and delightful conversation with your beau. Beautifully set.

    Reply
  9. NanaDiana says

    June 26, 2013 at 11:39 pm

    You do things so beautifully, Lorraine. Your food is always a work of art! xo Diana

    Reply
  10. Lynn@Happier Than a Pig in Mud says

    June 26, 2013 at 9:58 pm

    The soup sounds great and what a cozy spot for dinner! Gotta add fennel to the long list of things I haven't tried yet:@)

    Reply
  11. Ann says

    June 26, 2013 at 8:51 pm

    That soup sounds really good. Your table looks so pretty and inviting.

    Reply
  12. Barbara F. says

    June 26, 2013 at 8:03 pm

    I love your table for two and the soup sounds yummy and satisfying. Love the pineapple candle holders. Looks beautiful and romantic. xo

    Reply
  13. EMMA says

    June 26, 2013 at 6:36 pm

    Yet again a big 'yumms' up from me. You make the most delicious sounding things and your table always looks so lovely.

    Reply
  14. lindsey says

    June 26, 2013 at 5:23 pm

    The soup looks wonderful and so does your little table 🙂

    Reply
  15. podso says

    June 26, 2013 at 10:16 am

    Lorraine it looks delicious and we also had soup the other day after a rain storm. Even though it's still warm out side it just makes me think "soup." I love your dutch oven, and how you make your "dinners for two" so special!

    Reply

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Hi! I'm Lorraine. Welcome to Grateful Prayer Thankful Heart. A place to find food for your tummy, projects for your hands, and encouragement for your heart.

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