2 pounds ground pork

1 medium yellow onion – diced

3 large cloves garlic

2 tbsp parsley flakes

1 tbsp red pepper flake

1 tbsp Italian seasoning

1/2 tbsp crushed bay leaf 1/2 tbsp dried basil

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 can coconut milk – full fat or with cream

4 cups bone broth or chicken stock

or chicken stock 6 cups roughly chopped kale

Over medium heat, add about 3 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil to preheated Dutch oven or stock pot. Quickly brown ground pork with garlic, parsley, red pepper flake, bay leaves, basil and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and pepper. Once browned, add chopped onion, stirring to combine, cooking together for about 5 minutes, until onions become slightly translucent.

Lower heat to medium low and add bone broth and coconut cream, stirring to combine. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes, adding kale last. Allow to wilt in, simmer on low for an additional 10 minutes.

Serve immediately.

My Keto life has met a new friend, and her name is Whole 30.

I know, I know. I said I loooooved Keto. And I do! But I wanted to see what going dairy free felt like for a bit, but decided that if I were to take that journey, I was gonna eat some dang fruit while I traveled!

Nothing upsets me more than thinking about a world without cheese. That said, I’m 7 days into Whole 30 and I don’t even miss it. Weird, I know. But I’m into it!

One of my favorite soups is a creamy sausage soup from the good old Olive Garden. It’s loaded with greens, cheese, cream, potatoes and sausage. Oh, and it’s also horrible for you.

Whoops. Or maybe that’s just the 400 breadsticks I used to eat along with it? Annnnyyyyywho…

I was bound and determined to turn this old favorite into a new one, while keeping the ingredients clean. I settled on kale, because, it’s kale and it’s amazing for you, the creaminess would come from coconut milk and finally, the savory note would be a little DIY sausage. Viola! Success.

I decided a very necessary step was to make my own flavoring instead of buying a pre-made sausage, because the chemical lists on those can be PREEEEEEETTY dicey. Especially when fitting compliance with Whole 30. And with how simple it is to create that flavor, it seemed like a no brainer.

You’re welcome to play around with extra seasoning here, or leave it as described. I may have added some fennel seeds, provided I had remembered them while grocery shopping. The odds are rarely in my favor, in that dept though. If I ever make it to see The Wizard, I’m definitely asking for a brain.

Be sure to look for full fat coconut milk, sometimes referred to as coconut milk with cream. It will lend that silky, rich consistency, but feel light at the same time. I love the slightly sweet undertones it adds, too. Once your kale is in and wilted down, you’re good to go on this gem. Signed, sealed, delivered, it’s yours!