Prepare the Vegetables: Peel and dice the potatoes, onion, bell pepper, and carrots. Mince the garlic. This preparation takes about 15 minutes.

Cook the Sausage (Optional): Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the cooked and crumbled sausage, cooking until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Set aside.

Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker: In your slow cooker, combine the prepared vegetables and the optional sausage. Add the spices and mix well.

Add the Broth: Gently pour the vegetable broth over the combined ingredients in the slow cooker.

Cooking Time: Cover the slow cooker and set it to cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until the potatoes are tender.

Blend the Soup: Once cooked, use an immersion blender to blend the soup until smooth or to your desired texture.

Stir in Cream: Add the heavy cream to the blended soup and stir well. Heat through for an additional 10-15 minutes on low.

Serve & Garnish: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with green onions and parsley if desired.

Enjoy With Bread: Serve hot with crusty bread or crackers for a complete meal experience.