Olive Garden Night at Home! Zuppa Toscana, Salad and Breadsticks

Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana, Salad and Bread sticks

Who doesn't like the all you can eat soup, salad and bread sticks from the Olive Garden??

It's such an easy place for lunch, and it's always good!!

My niece and I used to go there quite a bit, and one time we tried the Zuppa Toscana

soup and it was so yummy!! 

 I had to figure out how to make it!

If you ever want to make something that you have had a restaurant, the site you need to check is copy kat recipes.  Thank God for google, I found it and use it A LOT.

So, that is where this recipe came from, copykatrecipes.com  It's not mine, it's not theirs,

it's the Olive Garden's.

But I am going to share this with you.

And then you need to pass it on... get it?

for other copy kat recipes click HERE

When you make this soup, you will be instantly hungry! From the moment the Italian sausage starts to brown with the red pepper flakes, to sauteing the onion, garlic and bacon, your tummy will begin to growl!

Fall has hit our area, and we are HUGE soup eaters.  This rainy, cold and gloomy Monday just called for this body warming soup! 

With the spiciness of the peppers and sausage to the creaminess of the broth, it's a match made in heaven... or at least the Olive Garden!

*~*

Zuppa Toscana

INGREDIENTS

1 lb ground Italian sausage

1½ tsp crushed red peppers

1 large diced white onion

4 Tbsp bacon pieces (I bought the REAL bacon pieces in the salad section, worked great and not as much grease)

2 tsp garlic puree

10 cups water

5 cubes of chicken bouillon

1 cup heavy cream

1 lb sliced Russet potatoes, or about 3 large potatoes (sliced with skins left on)

¼ of a bunch of kale chopped (I used my kitchen shears)

1.Sauté Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in a large pot. Drain excess fat, refrigerate while you prepare other ingredients.

2.In the same pan, sauté bacon, onions and garlic for approximately 15 mins. or until the onions are soft.

3.Mix together the chicken bouillon and water, then add it to the onions, bacon and garlic. Cook until boiling.

4.Add potatoes and cook until soft, about half an hour.

5.Add heavy cream and cook until thoroughly heated.

6.Stir in the sausage.

7.Add kale just before serving.

Makes 6-8 Servings  ( I always double it!!)

*~*

 Olive Garden Salad Dressing

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/3 cup white vinegar

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

2 tablespoon corn syrup

2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoon Romano cheese

1/4 teaspoon garlic salt, or one clove garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes

1 tablespoon lemon juice

sugar (optional)

Place all ingredients in a blender until well mixed. If this is a little too tart for your own personal taste, add a little extra sugar. You can enjoy your Olive Garden salad dressing for about 10 days if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

*~*

Olive Garden Salad

1 bag Dole American Blend Salad

4-5 slices red onion

4-6 black olives

2-4 pepperoncini (if you like a sweet pepper, you could use a banana pepper)

1/2 cup croutons

1 small tomato, quartered

freshly grated Romano cheese (Parmesan Cheese works well too!)

Chill one salad bowl in freezer for at least 30 minutes. Place bag of salad in bowl. Place on top of the lettuce the red onion, black olives, pepperoncinis, tomatoes, and croutons. Add some freshly grated Parmesan cheese if you like, and add plenty of Olive Garden Salad Dressing on top.