This is another recipe from Chez Panisse Vegetables.  By the way, Silvi and I have started listing our favourite cookbooks under the cookbooks tab above.  It will take me  a while to finish mine….I have MANY, MANY cookbooks.  Anyway, this soup is ridiculously simple and good for you.  It is of Portuguese origin.  Caldo Verde translates as green soup.  The sausage flavours the water, the potato thickens the water, the kale turns it all green.  Its like magic.  I made this while on tour recently after having recovered from a terrible stomach flu.  It made me better.  Also, my friend Julie came over the night I was making it and her husband Miguel sent her with authentic Portuguese sausage, which was a treat.  Miguel is of Portuguese decent and also very, very thoughtful.

• about a pound of Kale (Cabbage or spinach works too)
• about two pounds boiling potatoes
• two quarts of water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cooked garlic sausage  (sliced)
• extra virgin olive oil

1. Bring the water and salt to a boil
2. Meanwhile, remove the stems from the Kale, wash it and cut into chiffonade.
3. Peel the potatos and chop them very fine
4. Add the potatos to the boiling water, let it return to a boil and cook covered until the potatoes are soft.
5. Add the Kale and cook 2 minutes more.
6. Add the sausage and cook until the sausage is heated.
7. Adjust the seasoning and add a splash of olive oil.