Turkey Sausage, Kale, and Butternut Squash Soup

This weekend, I was feeling a little under the weather.  I caught a slight cold and have not been feeling myself.  I decided to make a healthful pot of soup.  I started the soup by sautéing italian turkey sausage with the casings removed.  Then after the sausage was browned, I added fennel, carrots, and onion, a pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper.  Once the vegetables were soft, I added a cup of champagne (it was already open in the fridge; you can also use white wine) and about two quarts of chicken broth.  Then I added a tablespoon of fresh grated nutmeg, a palmful of cumin, and an entire butternut squash that I peeled and diced.  I let this simmer for about 20 minutes or so until the squash was softened.  I added kale that I trimmed and cut into small pieces.  I let the soup simmer for another 20 minutes.  As the final step, I added a can of small white beans and warmed them through for another five minutes.  The final product was delicious and warmed my entire body through.  It is a great dish for a cold, snowy day.  Give it a go and you won’t be disappointed!