The Clay Coyote Flameware cazuela is my favorite piece of pottery right now. I try to  use mine for everything. I think it is one of our most versatile pieces. I created this hearty soup entirely in my cazuela. I admit, this soup recipe is inspired by Zuppa Tuscana. I added a few more ingredients, and cut out the use of multiple pots.

I also wanted to show how multifunctional our Flameware saucepan is; I put two servings of this soup in my saucepan to reheat the soup. I then put the saucepan directly on my table for serving. It looks beautiful, and the ceramic saucepan kept the soup warm until it was time to eat.

Sausage Potato Soup with Kale

1 pound Italian sausage

5 pieces bacon

2 large potatoes

1 large onion

2 cups fresh mushroom

1 chopped red pepper

2 cloves of garlic, minced

3 cups kale (or any other leafy green)

1 cup heavy whipping cream

2 quarts chicken broth

red pepper flakes, salt, pepper (optional)

First brown the sausage in your cazuela over medium heat. Drain the sausage, and transfer to another dish. Next cook the bacon, onion, and garlic in cazuela until bacon is firm and onions are golden. Drain excess fat. Add chicken broth,  potato, mushrooms, and red pepper. Bring ingredients to a soft boil, for about 5 minutes.

I love the temperature changes the cazuela can handle. It is great for browning meats, sautéing onions, simmering soups, and boiling potatoes. I also love that it can go in the oven. Our flameware is easy to clean. You can put it in the dishwasher, but I recommend washing it by hand. Once it cools, scrub it out with warm water. Occasionally, I have a few hard to remove spots. I add a little homemade vinegar made from our Vinegar Crock, and voila!

Reduce heat to medium, and cook until potatoes are soft. This should take around 30 minutes. Next you add the sausage and cream. Cook this until everything is heated through. The last step is to add the kale. I like to store the kale and soup separately. I think it tastes better when it is added just before serving.

This recipe makes a large batch of soup, but it freezes wonderfully.