This recipe was created by Jo-Anna Rooney from A Pretty Life Blog  

Ingredients:

• 1 lb Italian sausages (about 6 sausages)
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 5 carrots, diced
• 2 celery sticks, diced
• 4 large potatoes, diced
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp dry mustard
• 1 tsp paprika
• 4 tbsp flour
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp hot sauce
• 1 cup cream or milk (see tips)
• 2 cups shredded old white cheddar cheese 

Directions: 

1. If you are using sausages, remove the casings.
2. In a large soup pot over medium heat, add the ground Italian sausage and cook until lightly browned.
3. When the sausage has cooked, use a slotted spoon to transfer the sausage to a bowl and set aside.
4. In the same pot, keep the drippings and add the onions, garlic, carrots, celery and potatoes. If there are not enough drippings, add 2 tbsp of vegetable or olive oil.
5. Sauté until the onions are soft but not browned.
6. Add the seasonings: salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, dry mustard and paprika. Stir and cook for about 2 minutes.
7. Add the 4 tbsp of flour, stir and cook for about 2 minutes.
8. Add the chicken broth, bay leaf, hot sauce and cooked Italian sausage.
9. Simmer over low-medium heat until the soup thickens and the potatoes are cooked, about 20 minutes.
10. Stir in the cream and simmer for 5 minutes.
11. Remove the bay leaf.
12. Add the shredded cheese, stir until the cheese is melted.
13. Serve and enjoy!

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes 

Serves 8