Rich and Creamy Soup Without the Cream

I am not sure what to call this soup. I wanted a rich soup with potato and then a friend and I were talking about the Olive Garden "Zuppa Toscana" so I knew I had to make something but without all that cream and this was really good, one of the best soups I think I have ever made.



1 large onion, halved and sliced
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
4 oz Italian Sausage cut into bite size pieces
2 oz bacon cut into small pieces
1 teaspoon red pepper flacks (do not use if using spicy italian sausage)
1 clove garlic, minced
4 cups stock or water
4 medium to large Potatoes
1 14oz can white kidney beans
1 cup chopped kale
1 cup milk
salt and pepper

In a large pot over medium heat slowly caramelize the onions in the olive oil about 20 minutes.

While the onion is browning peel 2 potatoes and cut in to cubes and place in pot with cold salted water and cook until tender.

Add the sausage chunks and bacon pieces, garlic and the pepper flacks to the onions and cook until the bacon is browned.

Blend the potatoes with the potato waster in a blender until smooth also blend 1/2 of the can of the white kidney beans until smooth, you may need to use a little of the potato water.

Add the stock to the pot of onions with the blended potatoes and beans. the rest of the potatoes, cubed, and the kale. when the potatoes are tender add the remaining beans, milk and season to taste.