Awesome Soup

Recipe by Joyce'S

I had this soup at a very popular restaurant here in Hamilton, Ontario called "The Black Forest Inn". I loved it & spent hours trying to duplicate it. It did 'work' & this is such an awesome homemade comfort soup for cold days. Enjoy!

4 cups of beef or chicken broth
plus 4 cups of water (add more if needed)

1-28oz can crushed tomatoes
1 or 2 large onions, chopped
4 tbsp butter
2-3 tsp flour
33oz jar sauerkraut, drained & rinsed
6 slices bacon, diced
about 2 cups diced kielbasa (or more)
1 cup each, diced potatoes, carrots & turnips (or more)
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup diced celery
1/8 tsp allspice
1 tbsp crushed garlic
3 tsp brown sugar
2 bay leaves
1/8 tsp marjoram
salt & pepper to taste
a not to thick paste of paprika & cornstarch to thicken

Sauté' the onions in the butter till translucent. Add the flour & blend well, you will have a bit of a paste now. Add the beef stock & the water. Stir well. Add all other ingredients except the paprika/cornstarch paste. Bring to a boil then reduce to simmer for about 3 hours or more. Giving it a stir once in awhile till all veggies are tender. Make your paprika/cornstarch paste & slowly add to the soup until it thickens & has a 'cream of-like' texture to it. Serve with dollops of sour cream & some fresh baguette.