CP Sausage Kale Soup with Sweet Potatoes

14 oz. sliced and halved (or diced) smoked sausage (I prefer Butterball Hardwood Smoked Turkey, 13 oz.)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 onion, diced
two diced carrots (about 1 cup)
two stalked celery, sliced (about 1 cup)
olive oil
3 kale leaves, chopped*
two small sweet potatoes, chopped (about 4 cups)*
2 cups fresh or frozen green beans, chopped into 1" pieces* (*I actually found frozen bags of these and dumped them in frozen)
2 TBSP Italian seasoning
pepper to taste

Begin by slicing and browning the smoked sausage in a little olive oil.  Chop the onion and add to the pan with the sausage.  Cut the carrots (my chunks were a little too thick so go thinner) and add.  Finally, chop and add the celery and cook until sausage is browned and onions are cooked.

Meanwhile, add the vegetable broth and two cans of tomatoes (without draining), the rest of the veggies, and the seasonings to your crockpot.  Add in the sausage mix.  Cook on high 3-4 hours or on low 6-8 hours.  (I used a preset that cooks on high for 1 hour and then low for 8, but didn't need to cook it the full 9 hours.)

CP Cowboy Chicken Chili Mac

CP Cowboy Chicken Chili Mac
8-10 servings

Ingredients:
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 tsp chili powder
2 tsp paprika powder
2 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp onion powder
½ tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried oregano
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
1 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup of onion, diced
1 (15 oz) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes with juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup barbecue sauce
½ cup ketchup
2 cups chicken broth
12 oz package of elbow pasta, cooked to al dente according to package
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, plus extra for topping
chives, diced for topping

 Directions:
1. Add chicken to your crockpot. In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, paprika, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano black pepper and salt. Sprinkle seasoning over both sides of chicken.
 2. Next add in your red pepper, onion, beans, tomatoes, garlic, barbecue sauce, ketchup and chicken broth to slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.
 3. Once cooking time is up, shred chicken with 2 forks. And mix in crockpot until well combined. Stir in cooked pasta. Stir in cheese. Turn the crockpot off. Cover until cheese is melted, about 5 min.
4. Serve topped with cheese and diced chives. ...add drained canned whole corn and drained, rinsed can of black beans for a SW spin, and it will serve more folks...add pinto beans...whatever!