Pasta, Sausage, and Bean Soup

I'm just different when it comes to soup -- not too much of any one ingredient because I like a lot of broth.  If you don't like a lot of broth, add ingredients that have a tendency to thicken -- e.g., pasta and potatoes.  In this soup -- the pasta really thickens the soup.  I've, from time to time, have reheated soup only to find that the pasta soaked up much of my precious broth!  I'm not happy!  When a soup calls for pasta, I am very careful with the amount I add to the soup -- in fact, I usually cook it separately.  I have a choice then --  I can add it each time I reheat....or not.  I have made the following soup early in the Fall -- when the leaves are just turning.  I think soup goes with Fall!  A nice way to celebrate the beginning of crisp weather, the warmth of a fireplace, and a home filled with aromas that are incredibly inviting.  These are some of my favorite things!

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound sweet Italian sausages -- try to get organic links from places like Whole Foods Market or your fav butcher shop
1 1/2 cups chopped white or yellow onions
diced carrots -- I only use a small amount -- too many will make soup sweet, so 2 or 3 med-size
celery stalks with leaves, chopped -- 3-4 stalks or to taste
5 tablespoons chopped garlic from jar or 6-8 garlic cloves
2 sprigs of fresh basil or 1-2 teaspoons dried basil
2 sprigs of fresh rosemary or 1-2 teaspoons dried rosemary
2 sprigs of fresh or about 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
8 cups chicken STOCK (buy 4 boxes when doubling this recipe) - I try to buy organic "Swanson" as it is very rich in flavor
*3-4 medium size fresh tomatoes (diced into small pieces)or 2 cans (14.5) ounce organic diced tomatoes
1 14.5-ounce can tomato sauce
1 14.5-ounce can dark red kidney beans
1 14.5-ounce can of great northern beans
1 bunch of fresh spinach -- add to pot last 10 minutes before serving
2 to 3 stems of fresh kale and fresh watercress (washed well) -- optional
2 small cubed zucchini -- optional
salt and pepper to taste
Ditalini pasta - your choice of amount -- I cook separately and add to individual bowls

Directions:
Pierce sausage well on all sides to avoid "exploding" in microwave if you choose to use this method to cook. Or grease a large skillet with a little olive oil and fry until cooked through. Remove from skillet and place on paper towels to drain; when cool, cut into bite-size pieces.

Heat olive oil in a large soup pan over medium-high heat.  Add onions, carrots, celery, garlic, basil, rosemary, crushed red pepper and sage.  Saute until vegetables begin to soften, about 10 minutes. Add broth, undrained tomatoes (if using the canned tomatoes) and beans.  If you are adding zucchini, add at this point.

Bring soup to boil.  Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are fully cooked and flavors blend, about 20 minutes.  Add thawed and well-drained spinach at this point.  If using fresh spinach, add at this point as well as the kale and watercress.  Just add a little watercress, as it has a hot, peppery flavor sometimes. Spinach should be the dominant green in this soup.  But adding a "bit" of the others make it oh so good!  Add the cooked sausage back into the pot at this point.  Stir in well.

Pasta -- add desired amount of pasta to soup (about 30 minutes before serving).  Or -- cook pasta separately in a heavy duty pot according to directions on the Ditalini box.  This is how I do it, but you may prefer adding pasta to the soup.  I cook separately and add desired amount to individual bowls.  The reason is:  I like a lot of broth.  Adding too much pasta to the soup will absorb broth overnight in the frig.

This soup is even better after the first day -- the spices have melded well and have intensely flavored the soup.

*If using the fresh tomatoes, score an "X" on bottom of tomato, bring a pot of water to a boil and boil tomatoes 20-30 seconds -- no longer as the tomatoes will start to cook on the inside.  Immediately drop them into an ice bath -- skins will come right off!