Slow Cooker Creamy Gnocchi Sausage Kale Soup

Bahan-bahan (12 porsi)

• 1 pound 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 chicken broth (good-quality)
• 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 evaporated milk (or half and half, or reduced fat cream - full fat may also be used if not watching calorie intake)
• 3 heaping tablespoons cornstarch (mixed and dissolved well in 2 cups of milk, I use 2% milk)
• 1 pound fresh gnocchi (found in the fridge section of your supermarket)
• 4 cups shredded kale leaves, (stems removed (or baby spinach leaves),)
• 1 pinch salt (to taste)
• 1 pinch pepper (to taste)