Christina's Italian Meatball Soup

from The Pioneer Woman Cooks

Meatballs:
¾ pounds ground beef
½ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tablespoons dried parsley
1 whole egg
2 cloves garlic
½ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoons black pepper
¼ teaspoons ground oregano
2 teaspoons lemon juice

Soup:
3 TBSP olive oil
5 C beef stock
4 cups water
½ teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 TBSP tomato paste
¾ cup onion, chopped
¾ cup carrots, chopped
¾ cup celery, chopped
1 cup russet potato, chopped (do not peel)
½ pound cabbage chopped
4 teaspoons dried parsley
2 whole Bay Leaves

To make meatballs, combine all meatball ingredients and mix well. Shape into small balls and chill for 30 minutes.

After chilling, heat olive oil over medium-low heat in a heavy pot. Briefly brown meatballs, then remove to a plate. Drain some of the fat off. To pot, add beef stock, water, salt, tomato paste, and herbs. Bring to a boil, then simmer 30 minutes.

Add onion, carrots, celery, and potatoes. Simmer 15 more minutes.

Add cabbage and meatballs. Bring to a boil, then simmer 8 to 10 minutes.

Serve with plenty of freshly grated Parmesan cheese sprinkled over the top.

Christina's Mixed Potato and Sausage Soup

from Smitten Kitchen

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 10 ounce fully cooked smoked Portuguese linguiça sausage or chorizo sausage, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices (Spanish chorizo or smoky Kielbasa can be substituted)
2 medium onions, chopped
2 large garlic cloves, minced
2 pounds red-skinned sweet potatoes (yams; about 2 large), peeled, quartered lengthwise, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 pound white-skinned potatoes, peeled, halved lengthwise, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
6 cups low-salt chicken broth
1 9-ounce bag fresh spinach

1 can white beans, drained (optional)

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add sausage; cook until brown, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Transfer sausage to paper towels to drain. Add onions and garlic to pot and cook until translucent, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Add all potatoes and cook until beginning to soften, stirring often, about 12 minutes. Add broth; bring to boil, scraping up browned bits. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until potatoes are soft, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Using potato masher, mash some of potatoes in pot. Add browned sausage to soup. Stir in spinach and simmer just until wilted, about 5 minutes. Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Season with salt and pepper. Divide among bowls and serve.