Chicken Sausage & Lima Stew
INGREDIENTS
olive oil
12 ounces chicken sausage fully cooked
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 ribs celery, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 cup dry white wine
4 cups tap water
4 cups homemade chicken stock
1 lb dried lima bean can use canned for speed and ease
5 ounces spinach
salt and pepper to taste
freshly grated Parmesan cheese and bread if desired
INSTRUCTIONS
Rinse and soak beans over night (or use canned) make sure to salt water generously
Dice and prepare all ingredients
In a dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Once hot add in the chicken sausages.
Next add in the onion and celery,season on each step to taste, cook till translucent and soft.
Next add in all other dry ingredients. Cook for 1 to 2 more minutes.
Next pour the wine and deglaze then add in the rest of the liquids.
Cover, and once boiling, reduce to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
Next check seasoning and stir in the spinach right before serving.
Ladle stew into bowls and top with grated fresh parmesan and serve with warm bread for dunking.
It been a warmer than normal winter so far here in the Northern Midwest with a lack of snow as well. Yet there is something about waking up to a fresh blanket of pristine snow on the ground that just warms the soul. When I was child it meant a possible day off of school and if it was the weekend it definitely meant a day full of sledding, snowball fights and what ever other adventures the snow laden ground could bring. Yet coming home after a day in the cold and being pummeled with frozen balls of ice is one of my strongest memories. After the feat of getting out of the like carbonite like snow suit we would rush over to the dinette and have a warm bowl of soup that was waiting for us. Something about the contrast of the cold inner core and that hot bowl of soup just brought joy to the soul like no other. Along with the care of mother and being back home safe just always lets me hold soup in a special place.
It has been said that the essence of economy is a good soup, well years ago it was said. Yet now Americans waste a good deal of food that could be transformed into most ugly delicious and nourishing soups. This has gotten to the point that we make social media reels of the changing of the guard for our lettuce and produce items. Making light of a terrible waste to possibly make ourselves feel better about being waste full of the gifts mother nature has worked so hard to give, as its just normal. The great thing about soup is with the right herbs and seasoning you can pretty much throw anything into a pot and get something out that will taste soul warming. So give this one a try and try to come up with something new from those items that got left in the back of the fridge.