Hearty Minestrone Soup

• 1 12 lbs ground sweet Italian sausage (remove from casing if using links)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 -3 tablespoons fresh basil
• 3 fresh garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups carrots, peeled and thick sliced
• 2 small zucchini, halved then thick sliced
• 4 -8 cups chicken broth
• 24 ounces diced tomatoes (drained)
• 3 cups shredded cabbage
• 12 teaspoon salt
• 12 teaspoon pepper
• 1 (16 ounce) can great northern beans, undrained

1. Brown sausage in olive oil.
2. Add onion, garlic, carrots and basil; cook for 5 minutes.
3. Add zucchini, tomatoes with liquid, enough broth to cover ingredients plus about 1" extra, cabbage and salt & pepper.
4. Bring soup to a boil; reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook for 1 hour.
5. Add beans with liquid, cook another 20 minutes.
6. Serve with crusty bread.
7. (Even better the second day!
8. ).

ground sweet italian sausage, onion, olive oil, fresh basil, garlic, carrots, zucchini, chicken broth, tomatoes, cabbage, salt, pepper, great northern beans

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/hearty-minestrone-soup-413280 (may not work)