Kale goes by another name, one much more dashing, especially in Italian. Cavolo Nero, black cabbage, may not evoke superhero status, but it's close. Kale does seem invincible and it's known to make the eater more so, too. It's also called dinosaur kale (also called lacinato), maybe because its leaves look like the back of a lizard. Those thin knobby leaves squeak. Do not confuse cavolo, accent on the first syllable, with cavallo, accent on the second, or you'll be ordering black horse, and in certain parts of the world will find it. Hearty and good for the spirit. I like soaked and cooked cannellini better than canned ones.

　　

Ingredients

Serves 12 to 14

　　2 Italian sausages, skins removed and meat crumbled

　　4 tablespoons olive oil

　　2 onions, chopped

　　2 garlic cloves, minced

　　2 quarts chicken stock

　　1 cup white wine

　　6 thyme sprigs

　　1 bunch of kale, washed and chopped

　　4 cups cooked cannellini beans

　　

Step 1

Sauté the crumbled sausage in the oil until browned, and reserve. Sauté the onions and garlic until translucent.

　　

Step 2

Add to the chicken stock in a big pot. Add the wine and cook until the alcohol has evaporated, then add the thyme and kale. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the cooked sausage and the beans and simmer another 15 minutes.

　　

Nutrition Per Serving

Per serving: 140.0 calories

　　60.0 calories from fat

　　7.0g total fat

　　1.0g saturated fat

　　5.0mg cholesterol

　　330.0mg sodium

　　12.0g total carbs

　　2.0g dietary fiber

　　4.0g sugars

　　5.0g protein

　　#### Nutritional analysis provided by [TasteBook

　　using the USDA Nutrition Database]( )

　　Every Day in TuscanyReprinted with permission from Every Day in Tuscany by Frances Mayes. Copyright © 2010 Frances Mayes. Published by Broadway, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.Frances Mayes is the author of four books about Tuscany. The now-classic Under the Tuscan Sun—which was a New York Times bestseller for more than two and a half years and became a Touchstone movie starring Diane Lane. It was followed by Bella Tuscany and two illustrated books, In Tuscany and Bringing Tuscany Home. She is also the author of the novel, Swan, six books of poetry, and The Discovery of Poetry. Her books have been translated into more than twenty languages.