Crockpot Butternut squash, sausage & spinach soup

Crockpot Butternut Squash, Sausage & Spinach Soup

2 tbsp olive oil

1 lb sausage

1 lg onion, diced

4 garlic cloves, minced

4 cups chicken broth (I use my homemade bone broth)

2 cups butternut squashed, diced into squares

1 (28oz) can diced tomatoes

1 cup rough chopped spinach

1 bay leaf

Heat oil in large pan over medium-high heat

Add onion, garlic and sausage (removed from casing)
Cook sausage until browned, and onion is translucent

In crockpot add chicken broth, butternut squash, bay leaf, and can of diced tomatoes

Add sausage to crockpot when done

Cook on low 6-8 hours

10 minutes prior to eating turn temperature to high and add spinach

Good topped with shredded parmesan 

Enjoy!

***Can add pasta if you would like (just cook pasta per instructions on box and add to crockpot with spinach), I cooked up a loaf of fresh rosemary bread to go with mine. 

Crock Pot Minestrone

I've tried many Crock Pot Minestrone recipes, and I have a "go-to" but this is my new favorite and will replace my old one for sure.

Crock pot Minestrone
1 lb sausage
2 cups vegetable/chicken stock
2 cups water
1 lg can diced tomatoes
chopped celery
chopped carrots
chopped onion
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried crushed rosemary
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp sugar
salt and pepper to taste
chopped zucchini
garlic minced
1 can kidney beans, rinsed
2 cups spinach
1/2 cup pasta (I used Stelline) cooked
Finely shredded Parmesan

Cook sausage in skillet on stove until brown, add to crock pot
Add stock, water, tomatoes, celery, carrots, onion, herbs and sugar to crock pot.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
An hour before ready to eat add zucchini and kidney beans.
5 minutes before ready to eat add cooked pasta and spinach
Serve warm topped with Parmesan cheese

As much as I love a "throw everything in" and be done recipe, slowly adding the ingredients like zucchini, kidney beans and spinach gives a great texture to the soup.  Remember I don't give "amounts" for the vegetables/garlic etc, because every family likes things differently. You may want to add more carrots than celery, this way you can customize your minestrone yourself.
Enjoy!