Zuppa Toscana

This is my husband's and my favorite soup. I also got this recipe from Favorite Family Recipe Blog. It is similar to Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana. Favorite Family Recipes adds some bacon and onion but I usually leave that out. I also just put everything in the crock pot at the same time instead of waiting to put in the potatoes because I like my potatoes soft and cooked. I will serve it will breadtwists sometimes and it is fabulous!

3 cans (14oz) Chicken Broth
2 cups whipping cream
red pepper flakes (to taste)
salt and pepper (to taste)
4-5 cups chopped kale
3 to 4 potatoes scrubbed and cut into slices or small chunks (skins left on)
1 lb Johnsonville mild Italian sausage (shaped into small rounds, browned, and put on paper towels to de-grease... or if you are in a rush, just brown the sausage like you would ground beef).

Put everything except for potatoes together in a large crockpot and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours. Add potatoes the last 40-60 minutes (if you add them too soon they will get soggy).