Tuesday at the Table

When I asked hubby what he'd like for his birthday dinner last weekend, the significance of his choice was not lost on me. Back in my dating days, this was the dish I made for any first date. Which means this was the first meal I ever cooked for my hubby. It has become a family favorite over the years, and is known in our home as simply "sausage soup."
                   

                   Italian Tomato and Sausage Soup 

4 strips bacon, minced

1 onion peeled and minced

6 tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and diced*

1/2 t. sugar

8 cups beef stock

1 1/2#  sausage (we use polish kielbasa)

1 cup uncooked white rice

1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese

4 Tb. butter

salt and pepper to taste

2 Tb. fresh parsley, chopped (optional - my family prefers it without)

Saute bacon and onion in large soup kettle until lightly browned. Add tomatoes; sprinkle with sugar and cook 10 minutes, or until tomatoes are soft. Meanwhile, in a separate skillet over med-high heat, cook sausages in water to cover for 15 minutes. Drain sausages; cut into 1" pieces. (If using fully cooked sausage, just slice into 1" pieces.) Add sausages and stock to soup kettle. Bring mixture to a rolling boil; stir in rice. Cook, covered, over medium heat until rice is tender, adding more stock/water if needed. Remove from heat, stir in cheese, butter, and parsley, if using. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot with extra Parmesan.
*If you haven't peeled tomatoes before, the best way I know is to drop each whole tomato in a saucepan of boiling water and leave for about 10 seconds. Remove with tongs and the tomato skin will easily slip off with the help of a paring knife.