Sausage and Fennel Soup

Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Fennel Bulbs, chopped
2 small yellow onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp salt
1 Package Sweet Chicken Italian Sausage (I use Trader Joes Brand)
3 large vine ripened tomatoes, chopped
3 TBS tomato paste
2 boxes Chicken Stock (I use the Organic Pacific brand from Costco), plus additional if needed
1 cup of white rice
2 cups of frozen peas
1 bag/bunch of fresh spinach

Add enough olive oil to barely cover pan, heat over medium flame. Saute onions, fennel and garlic until translucent. Add salt. Squeeze sausage out of casings and add to vegetable mixture. Brown.

Add tomatoes to the mixture.

Cook for about 5 minutes, or until tomatoes start to break down and look like the picture below.

Add the two boxes of chicken stock, TBSs of tomato paste, and bring to boil. Turn to low and add rice. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, when rice will be soft. Add peas and spinach and bring mixture to boil - adding additional chicken stock if want a thinner soup, I prefer a thicker mixture, easier for the kids to pick up.