Swiss Chard Soup

Today I made Swiss Chard Soup for lunch for family. A neighbor here in River Heights gave us a large bag of fresh swiss chard. It was enjoyed by all because there are no leftovers. Even the kids ate it. The recipe follows...

Swiss Chard Soup
1 pound chicken spinach and asiago sausage, cut into small dice
1 tbsp virgin olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups cubed peeled potatoes
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herb seasoning
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon anise seed
3 cups water
1 cup sodium reduced chicken stock
2 cups sliced swiss chard, packed
1/2 cup shaved parmesan cheese

Cut sausage into 1 inch pieces. In a large saucepan, heat olive oil and brown sausage. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Add onion, garlic, potatoes, Italian herb seasoning, pepper, salt, and anise seed. Cook until onion is softened about 5 minutes. Add water and stock, bring to a boil. Return sausage to a pan, reduce heat and cover. Cook until potatoes are almost tender. Cook for about 7 minutes. Add swiss chard; simmer, covered, until tender, about 5 minutes. Top with parmesan cheese.