Ingredients

2 tsp olive oil
1 lb Italian Sausage (casings removed if necessary)
4 oz bacon (about 4 slices), diced into small pieces*
1 cup chopped yellow onion (about 1 small onion)
3 (14.5 oz) cans low-sodium chicken broth
2 cups water
1^1/2 lbs Russet potatoes, scrubbed and rinsed
Slice into halves, halves diced into 1/6-inch slices
1 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
1/2 tsp fennel seeds, crushed (optional) Our family is not crazy about fennel, so we omit.
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups half and half
1^1/2 cups packed chopped kale
Finely shredded Romano cheese for serving, optional

Instructions

Heat olive oil in a large non-stick saucepan over medium-high heat.
Crumble sausage into 1-inch pieces and add to saucepan.
Cook sausage, stirring occasionally until cooked through.
Drain sausage onto a plate or baking dish lined with paper towels, set sausage aside.
Add diced bacon to saucepan, return to heat and saute 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add diced onions and saute mixture until bacon is cooked through and onions are translucent, about 3 - 5 minutes longer.
Add chicken broth, water, sliced potatoes, sugar, fennel seeds (if using), and salt and pepper to taste.
Bring soup just to a boil then reduce heat to medium-low and stir in cooked sausage.
Cover saucepan and simmer, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are nearly tender, about 10 - 15 minutes.
Add in kale then simmer until potatoes are soft and kale is tender, about 5 - 10 minutes longer.
Stir in half and half and warm through.
Use a spoon or ladle to remove excess fat from top of soup if desired.

Serve warm topped with Romano cheese.