Trying a new recipe...

Since it's crazy busy around here with our tax returns, I have a nice new slow cooker soup in mind for our dinner. We eat relatively late these days, after Larry gets home so if we get the slow cooker rocking before we sit down to lunch...the timing will be perfecy with dinner 4-5 hours later. Here is what we are having tonight:



Slow Cooker Sausage, White Bean and Pasta Soup

This is a great soup for any day. Comfort food at its best. Serve it with a sandwich or cornbread and your family and guests will be coming back for more.

1 pound breakfast pork sausage (You can use mild or hot. I used the mild)
1 small onion, chopped
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 (14 ounce) can chicken broth
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 1/2 cups water
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of celery soup << I am substituting Campbell's Gluten Free Cream soup & chopped celery
1/2 package Kroger baby carrots or 3 to 4 carrots cut in pieces
1 cup dried great northern beans
1/2 cup elbow macaroni or pasta shells << I am using quinoa macaroni
1 tablespoon black pepper
Salt to taste
1/2 cup cabbage, shredded (Optional)


Brown sausage and onion with basil and garlic in a skillet. Drain and pour into crockpot. Add all other ingredients except the pasta. Cook on low for seven to eight hours or high for 4 or 5 hours. About an hour before soup finishes cooking, add pasta. This could be made on top of the stove as well. Just cook in large pot until beans are tender. Then add pasta or shells about the last 20 minutes.