Genteel: Gypsy Stew

One of my genuine passions is to feed my friends.  I dare say I've ever taken a complaint about anything that I cook, but it seems that my soups are the most satisfying...no matter what it is.  I create a lot of recipes, just throwing in some of this, a little of that, a dash here, a sprinkle there...last night's stew threw up a few red flags for folks.  If I had told them it was a take on Italian wedding soup, they would have been fine.  I called it "gypsy stew".  Jon even sent a text, having read the announcement on FB, which is in his grand nature to do...Jon: "Can we order pizza?"  Me: "Jon, I have soup..." (Lunsford, already present and forever faithful, tried to calm me down as he could see the flames forming on the sides of my face.)  Jon: "I know, Gypsy-style stew, a recipe you haven't tried before...so, pizza?" (Me to Lunsford, "Those bitches"  Lunsford to Me: "How dare they...!")  As the story turns out, Jon was joking with me...as usual.  And Mr. "Can we order pizza?" had three heaping bowls, as seen with #3 here...

I promised to post the recipe...so here it is with a few images.  It was really fulfilling...it's a keeper!

Dice two large white onions and mince two cloves garlic...sautee with olive oil

Add 1 pkg frozen sliced carrots, 1 pkg frozen french style green beans, 1 pkg of gnocchi dumplings

Cover with sodium free/fat free chicken stock...simmer...add one large can cream of chicken soup

Add any kind of sliced chicken/turkey sausage (mine had garlic and spinach in it)...cook through

Add 2 cans of white beans and 2 cans of chickpeas and 2 handfuls of fresh spinach leaves

I used about 2 tablespoons of ground pepper and 3 tablespoons of turmeric...a pinch of salt, too

It can't be screwed up...just add what you like and what balances and what compliments each ingredient.  I feel if you prepare it with a little soul, a dash of love, a cup or two of wine, and some fantastic music...it makes for a more satisfying dish.  The more fresh veggies the better, if you have the time.  I used turmeric, because it's loaded with amazing healing properties for the liver!