What is more comforting than a hot bowl of homemade soup?

Hey folks! Happy Chanukah! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! May this be a bountiful, beautiful, healthy and happy, joy and love filled 2012 for all of us!

I have been in nesting mode this holiday season. Not that I've been a recluse by any means, but I have managed to do quite a bit of cooking and sewing. The weather has been cold and grey and rainy, and weather like that always makes me yearn for soup.
 So...several days ago, I searched the pantry shelves and the freezer and fridge and came up with some lovely staples for soup-making. I am sharing the almost-recipe with you all now as it came out wonderfully well and I have been enjoying it for days.
We will call this one KALE SOUP WITH BEEF SAUSAGE AND GARBANZO BEANS

Ingredients:
2 bunches kale
1/2 white or yellow onion
3 cloves garlic
4-5 stalks celery
beef kielbasa or other spicy sausage
1 box of chicken broth
hot sauce
celery seed
curry powder
1 large can garbanzo beans
1 small can blackeyed peas
1 large can tomato puree
1 small can diced fire-roasted tomatoes

Steps:
Chop onion, garlic and celery (you can mince the garlic and dice the rest) Green pepper would be fine with this too if you happened to have one in the fridge!
Heat large soup pot and lightly coat bottom with olive oil. Saute veggies and add salt, pepper and hot sauce to taste.
Add diced sausages next and continue to saute.
Add tomato sauce and diced toms and curry powder ( start with a little curry and add more to taste)
Add a sprinkle of celery seed at this point and a bit more salt and pepper.
Add both cans of beans after you've drained and rinsed.
Add chicken broth and stir well.
Finally, the star of the show: KALE (Yes, I am well aware that this is my second kale post but what can I say, I came late to the kale party and now that I'm here, I refuse to leave!)
Chop kale--make sure to discard the woody stems. Rinse well and then toss into the soup. It will do what kale does best: it will get nice and tender but still retain some bite which will make the soup even better and heartier. YUMMY!!!
If you are like my kiddos, and you believe that every good dish is made great by the addition of cheese, you may sprinkle a bit of shaved parmesan over the top.
ENJOY and stay warm!
The next time you hear from me it will be my first post of 2012!