On Our Plates: Sausage and White Bean Soup + Avocado Fudge

Because we know you have been waiting anxiously to hear what we're eating out of a crockpot these days, we share this little gem. It's yummy. It has pork (which has so much flavor). It is pretty darn easy to throw together. And it's Nursing-Mom-Friendly - a good one to share with a family welcoming a new little one.

Sausage and White Bean Soup
 
1 lb sausage
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, diced
2 celery ribs, diced
3 cans (any kind) white beans, rinsed and drained
1 large can (798 mLs) of Italian style diced tomatoes (or regular diced tomatoes with half a tablespoon of Italian seasoning)
3/4 tsp rosemary
1 box chicken broth

Sauté sausage until browned. Throw the sausage and everything else EXCEPT the box of chicken stock into a labeled freezer bag. (Note on the freezer bag to add the box of stock for cooking.) Dump into slow cooker, add box of stock, and cook all day on low.

And you know what else...because we know you need a treat ASAP...we're going to share a recipe we discovered last weekend. It is absolutely fabulous and barely adapted from this site. We know, Avocado Fudge sounds nasty. Really REALLY gross. It's not. If you like to eat chocolate icing then you like Avocado Fudge. Mommy made it for her extended family last weekend when we had an Avocado Cookoff. EVERYONE was gee-roooossssed out by the idea. But then they couldn't stop eating it by the spoonful. Yet somehow Mommy didn't win...HUH. Clearly the judging was rigged. So. Just go buy an avocado. You've probably got the rest of the ingredients in your home. And we're aware that this is in no way a health food BUT it has a veggie in it. That has to count for something.

Avocado Fudge

1 avocado, ripened
1 stick butter
1 t. vanilla
1 C. cocoa
3 C. powdered sugar

In a medium sized saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Once butter is melted, puree with avocado in food processor or blender until perfectly smooth. Return mixture to saucepan over very low heat and add the rest of the ingredients. When you add the powdered sugar, just add a cup and mix it in, then the next cup and mix it in, then the last cup and mix it in. Once all the sugar has been added, the mixture should be thick. Transfer to a loaf pan. Refrigerate until firm. At least a couple of hours. Then hide it from everyone and eat it.