Pasta Fagioli Soup

1+ lb. ground beef and sausage
1 small onion, diced (1 cup)
1 large carrot, sliced (1 cup)
3 stalks celery, sliced (1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 14.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes
1 15 oz. can red kidney beans (with liquid)
1 15 oz. can great northern beans (with liquid)
1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
1 12 oz. can V-8 juice
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt   (I tend to over salt, so I left the salt out, since it was in the sausage.  Add salt to taste.)
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 pound ditali pasta

Brown the sausage/ground beef. Drain off most of the fat.  Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic and saute for 10 minutes.  Add remaining ingredients, except pasta and simmer for 1 hour.  Cook the pasta in a separate pan of boiling water for 10 minutes.  Drain and add to the soup.  Simmer for 5-10 minutes more.  Serve with bread sticks and salad.  Serves 8+

Freezer Meal Directions:  Thaw soup. Warm in a large pot.  Add the V-8 can and any additional water, salt, or chicken broth to taste.  Boil the ditali pasta in a separate pot or add to the soup plus some additional water for the last 10 minutes  Simmer until warm and flavors are mixed.

Sausage, Potato, and Kale Soup like at Olive Garden, (Zuppa Toscana)

(This recipe makes enough for two families, more than 16 servings)

1 bunch kale, washed, bite size
10 whole fresh red potatoes
1 whole onion, chopped
1 1/2 lbs Italian sausage
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups whole milk
4 cups half and half
salt to taste

Wash, slice, and boil potatoes, then set aside. Cook sausage and onion, drain.  In a large stock pot combine the potatoes (drained), sausage, onion, spices, broth, milk, and half and half. Simmer for 20 minutes.  Stir in kale, and simmer an additional 5 min. Serve with bread sticks and salad.  Enjoy.
When I made this soup, the grocer was out of Italian sausage, so I searched online for a recipe to make Italian sausage and then I added those spices to the sausage as it cooked.  If the soup is too spicy for you, eat less of the liquid with it.  We really enjoy this soup.  Kids can pick the kale out, if they choose.  Also, after taking this from the freezer, let it thaw on the counter and just warm it in a pot to serving temperature. If you cook it too much, the kale will be less appetizing. :)

Citrus Italian Chicken Kabobs

Cubed Chicken
Italian Salad Dressing
Orange Juice Concentrate to taste

You add the fresh pineapple chunks, bell pepper, red onions, zucchini, mushrooms and any other fruits or vegetables you like.  Combine these and the chicken chunks on the skewer and grill.