Caldo Verde, A Portuguese Soup

The first time Adelaide served this soup I had my doubts. Mostly because it looked like she had picked some fresh grass from outside and boiled it. But, this is the quintasential Portuguese soup. This is served in the most humble of homes in the countryside and the fanciest hotels and restaurants in Lisbon.

Ingredients:
4-8 potatoes, depending on how much soup you are making
1/2 of a large yellow onion
3 tbsp olive oil
4-6 cups of water, or enough to cover the potatoes
1-2 tbsp of salt, kosher salt if you have some
1 package of fresh kale, usually comes tied in a bunch like fresh spinach

Cooking Instructions:
To speed up the time of cooking the potatoes, I usually cut them into smaller pieces. This also makes things easier when you're ready to blend the soup. First, in a large saucepan or pot, place the cut onion and the olive oil and sautee. You can also add a few cloves of garlic here, if you'd like. Sautee until the onion is relatively clear and soft. Next, add the water, salt and potatoes (in place of salt, you could also use 1-2 cubes of chicken bouillon) and bring to a boil. Allow the potatoes to cook until they are fairly soft -- soft enough you can easily stab them with a fork. While the potatoes are boiling, remove the stems from the kale and take several leaves and roll them up. Cut them into small strips by slicing the roll. Repeat this process for all of the kale and set it aside. When the potatoes are done, blend the soup. I recommend using one of the hand blenders, but a conventional blender would be just fine, but could get messy trying to put the soup in the blender. Anyhow, when the soup is smooth and thick, but not too thick (if it resembles cream of wheat, add water), add the sliced strips of kale. Continue to simmer for 7-10 minutes to allow the kale to cook. Salt and pepper to taste.
The best way of eating this soup is the Portuguese way. Find the best bread you can. Tear in into pieces and place it in each bowl of soup. We absolutely love this soup recipe and it provides at least three meals the two of us, but that's because we always have seconds.