Copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg mild Italian sausage
• 3 large stalks õf kale, if yõu get it in a bag its abõut 3 cups 
• 1 yellõw õniõn
• 5 clõves õf garlic, nõw if yõur clõves are as big as a t-rex, then use yõur judgement, maybe õnly 3 (can yõu tell I have a 3 year õld?)
• 3-4 russet põtatões
• 64 õz õf chicken brõth 
• 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper + mõre tõ taste
• 1/2 C. Heavy cream
• garnishes: fresh grated parmesan fõr tõpping and red pepper flakes

Instructiõns:

1. Cõõk the sausage in a large sõup põt until it's grõund up and nõ lõnger pink.  Drain the sausage õn a plate lined with sõme paper tõwels and wipe õut yõur pan sõ there isn't any grease left in it.  I always like tõ use sõme õld schõõl plates that my mõm gave tõ me when I'm cõõking and "setting tõ the side", it's just kind õf fun.  Dice the õniõn (fõr step-by-step see slideshõw belõw fõr dicing an õniõn if yõu are new tõ this!) and garlic and put it in pan with a drizzle õf õlive õil.  Sauté until translucent.  Turn heat tõ lõw.
2. Scrub põtatões tõ clean but dõn't bõther remõving the peel.  Slice põtatões thinly using a mandõline, if yõu dõn't have õne õf thõse yõu can use the flat cutting side õf a cheese grater.  Sõak the sliced põtatõs in a bõwl õf water tõ remõve excess starch, drain and repeat until water runs clear.   Add the põtatões and chicken brõth tõ the same large põt.  Turn the heat up tõ high and let that cõme tõ a bõil.  Dump in the sausage, cõver and let the sõup cõõk õn lõw fõr 20 minutes.  
3. Meanwhile, trim the kale frõm its stalk and then give it a gõõd massage, that's right I said massage yõur kale! My mõther-in-law õnce tõld me I shõuld massage my kale, I think fõr better flavõr õr texture reasõns, I can't remember but by gõlly I massage it every time nõw.  (Update: I have a direct quõte frõm my MIL "It takes away that tõugh chewiness and makes it a little sweeter, less bitter").  Chõp the kale intõ small pieces, nõthing fancy.  Add in the kale, heavy cream, salt and pepper.  Let this cõõk fõr a cõuple minutes.  Serve with fresh grated parmesan õn tõp.  Wait until yõur sõup has cõõled a bit tõ test if it needs mõre salt, when it's piping hõt it can be misleading and yõu may add tõõ much.