Slow Cooker Creamy Gnocchi Sausage Kale Soup

Name: Slow Cooker Creamy Gnocchi Sausage Kale Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 4 h
Total time: 4 h 10 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 pound 500 grams ground hot Italian sausage, browned ((or any other sausage -- chicken, pork, beef or turkey)); 1 onion, (peeled and diced); 2 carrots, (peeled and diced); 2 celery sticks, (diced); 5 cloves garlic ((or 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic)); 4 cups good-quality chicken broth; 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning; 2 teaspoons vegetable stock powder, like Vegeta, ((or chicken/beef bouillon powder — chicken adds better flavour)); 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 3/4 teaspoon salt, ((adjust to your tastes)); 1/3 teaspoon cracked black pepper, ((adjust to your tastes)); 600 ml (2 1/3 cups) evaporated milk or half and half,; 3 heaping tablespoons cornstarch mixed and dissolved well in 2 cups of milk, ((I use 2% milk)); 1 pound (500 grams) fresh gnocchi ((found in the fridge section of your supermarket)); 4 cups shredded kale leaves, (stems removed (or baby spinach leaves),); extra salt and pepper, (to taste); optional toppings: freshly grated Parmesan cheese and crispy bacon