I love The Olive Garden

Yeah, I know not very gourmet but I really like a few things on their menu. They are simply delicious! My favorite things are the Zuppa Toscana and the plain old Fettuccine Alfredo. MMMMM! If you love those two things, you're in for a treat because I have some yummy copycat recipes for both!!! The Alfredo is NOT diet friendly, but if you only have it every once in a while it's fine! :)

Zuppa Toscana
servings: 6

Ingredients
1 pound bulk mild Italian sausage
1 1/4 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
4 slices bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 large onion, diced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
5 (13.75 ounce) cans low sodium chicken broth
6 potato, thinly sliced
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 bunch fresh kale, tough stems removed

Directions
1. Cook the Italian sausage and red pepper flakes in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until crumbly, browned, and no longer pink, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. Cook the bacon in the same Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain, leaving a few tablespoons of drippings with the bacon in the bottom of the Dutch oven. Stir in the onions and garlic; cook until onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
3. Pour the chicken broth into the Dutch oven with the bacon and onion mixture; bring to a boil over high heat. Add the potatoes, and boil until fork tender, about 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the heavy cream and the cooked sausage; heat through. Mix the kale into the soup just before serving.


Fettuccine Alfredo
servings 4-6

Ingredients
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups heavy cream
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
pinch salt
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 12-ounce box fettuccine pasta (or your choice of pasta)

Directions
1. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium/low heat.
2. Add the garlic, cream, pepper and salt, and bring mixture to a simmer. Turn the heat down if the mixture reaches a rapid boil or it could boil over. You just want a simmer. Add the cheese, and continue to simmer sauce for 8 minutes or until thick.
3. While sauce cooks, bring 4 to 6 quarts of water to a boil and add the pasta. Cook pasta for about 12 minutes or until done, then drain it.
4. Spoon pasta onto serving plates with Alfredo sauce poured over the top.