Slow Cooker Hot Sausage and Cabbage Soup and When I Was 25

Hot Sausage and Cabbage Soup

The hot Italian sausage makes this simple soup exciting to the taste buds.  The cabbage as well as the red beans not only add nutritional value to the tomato based soup but also complement the delicious flavor and heat of the sausage.

I based the recipe for this soup on one of the soup entries in the annual Souper Contest sponsored by the Monroeville McGinnis Specialty Food Store.  All of the submitted recipes that year, 2014, were delicious but this is one of my favorites and it has never failed to please my family and friends.  I simplified the preparation by utilizing the slow cooker and skipping the sauteing steps in the original recipe.

I served this during the recent annual January party I give to honor Sue Sciaretti who hosts one of the monthly Monroeville prayer groups I belong to and Natalie Foley who facilitates two of these monthly prayer groups.  I initially was going to serve this to Linda only who needed a gluten free soup but when the others beside her heard that she loved it they requested to have it too.

During this party  we had a pleasant surprise and treat in the person of Jon Bindley, the grandson of Sue's sister, Mary.  When Mary found out that we played Jon's awesome and delightful Three Rivers YouTube video (below) probably 5 times during our last year's annual party in January, she graciously invited Jon over to join us this year.  I almost passed out when I saw him come in. 

Jon can not only sing, he can also talk.  After a brief prayer meeting, he regaled us with songs and stories about his pursuit of his singing career including his Nashville experience after he finished degree at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA.  It is an interesting and inspiring life filled with ups and downs.

Jon singing one of his songs as one of the guests, Dot, listens. 

When I asked him his age which was 25, flood of memories of where I was at that age and the dreams I had came back.  I felt both the bravado I had at that time to chase my dreams as well as the fear and confusion along the way as I followed them.

What I was searching (which I wrote about in a past post) though was more formularic and clear cut namely, get an advanced degree in my field and then go from there.  His is more challenging in its uncertainties and I admire his guts for leaving the comfort of his hometown and set forth to Nashville to go after starting his singing career especially at a very young age. 



One can glean from the way he shared his insights, especially the passing of one of his friends, days before the Three Rivers video was shot, that Jon is a soulful and deep person.  His witty lyrics, especially the cute song about his co-worker in a Mexican restaurant in Nashville, are so captivating and it is no surprise.  He majored in English in college.  Back then he probably already felt the urge to express his thoughts and feelings not only in writing essays but also in composing songs.  He has a laid back charm and wit when he spoke that he had the ladies in attendance at the party in rapt attention listening to his stories and comments and readily engaged in conversation.

From the left, Mary Cay, Linda, Sue, Chris, Kathy, Dot and Jon.

I am not sure if the others at the party felt the same, but he really took me back to the time when I was 25 and made me remember and feel grateful I had the opportunity to have those dreams and go after them.  Somehow I felt not only young again but inspired to pursue my present goals in my bucket list. 

Thank you Jon for spending the time with us.  I wish you all the luck and God's blessings as you further pursue your dreams.  Thanks Mary and Sue for bringing Jon to us.  Thanks to all who attended also.  It was a spirit filled day.  

Jon singing for us during lunch that followed the prayer meeting.



Jon's fabulous Aunt Sue is on the right.  Beside her on the left is Linda.  The one in royal blue is Rose.





Grandma Mary is on the right beaming with pride. Who wouldn't?



I am now going to listen to Jon's video again one more time.  It really captures the heart of the city of Pittsburgh as one of those comments stated about the video.  Do warm yourself on this cold dreary day with this charming video of our beloved Pittsburgh. 

Slow Cooker Hot Sausage and Cabbage Soup

(Based on the recipe of 2014 Souper Bowl Monroeville Contestant - Theresa Burner)

Ingredients

• 1 lb hot Italian sausage with casing removed and sliced to bite sized pieces (or you can use hot bulk sausage)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 celery ribs chopped
• 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 1 can water
• 4 beef bullion cubes
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 can red kidney beans, un-drained
• 1/2 head of cabbage chopped

Place all the ingredients in the slow cooker.  Cook at low for 8 hours at low setting or 4 hours at high setting.  I cooked mine in an Aroma Brand Rice Cooker/Slow Cooker at slow cooker setting for 3 hours.  Enjoy.