Italian Tortellini Soup

 

Happy New Year and I hope that you and your loved ones are huddled in for a few months of winter. It's the comfort of winter that makes Spring so wonderful!  This is an easy on the budget and easy on the clock dinner that is hearty and delicious!  Just add a good baguette or garlic bread with salad and in half an hour, you're serving dinner!

You'll need:

• 1 lb. ground Italian Sausage
• 1 medium onion finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 pinches red pepper flakes
• 2 cups beef broth


• 1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can fire roasted tomatoes
• 4 cups vegetable broth or low sodium chicken broth
• 10 ounces refrigerated tortellini
• 3 cups arugula  (or spinach)
• Grated Parmesan Cheese
• Fresh thyme (optional)
• Fresh basil (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Brown the Italian Sausage in a Dutch Oven or stockpot over medium heat.  When it is almost entirely browned, add the onion and cook until the sausage is done browning and the onion has softened.  Turn the heat to low and add the garlic, basil, oregano, parsley, thyme, and red pepper flakes; cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
2. In a small bowl, whisk the tomato paste with about 1/2 cup of beef broth. Add the vegetable broth, remaining beef broth, fire-roasted tomatoes, and thinned-out tomato paste. Increase the heat to medium and bring it to a low boil.  Reduce the heat to a simmer. 
3. Add the cheese tortellini and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the tortellini are cooked to your desired tenderness.  Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the arugula.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Sprinkle each bowl with 1-2 tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. If desired, garnish with fresh thyme or fresh basil. 

This is a super easy 30 minute meal that will satisfy the heartiest of appetites!  Add bread and a salad and your family is all set for a warm and wonderful bowl of goodness!

Slow Cooker Breakfast Burritos

 

Everyone is so busy during the holidays, and everyone is also starving first thing in the morning!  This is an excellent and easy way to provide a hearty breakfast for your family at a very economical price.  This dish has very few ingredients and won't be more than about $1 per person!

You'll need:

2 lbs sausage (browned and crumbled) - you can mix hot and regular - I did 2 lbs of regular sausage
1 red sweet pepper diced
1 small onion minced - I used 2 Tbls of minced onion - tastes fine and much easier to fix
1 lb shredded hash browns - I used a little more than a pound
4 cups shredded cheese - I mixed Velveeta and Cheddar 
1 dozen eggs
1 cup milk
salt and pepper
flour tortillas
extra toppings as you like - I did sour cream, salsa, jalapeños and taco sauce - let your imagination go wild on the extras that your family would like.

Scramble your sausage and combine onion and sweet pepper until the sausage is browned and your veggies are sauteed.  Drain all the fat off this mixture and set it aside. I did this part a day ahead while my kitchen was already in use to avoid cleaning the cooktop again! (Real story - no regrets.)

Layer your crockpot with the 2 lb sausage, onion and sweet pepper mixture on the bottom.  Add a layer of 2 cups of cheese.  Add the hashbrowns on top and then add 1 more cup of cheese.

Beat your eggs with a cup of milk, salt and pepper to taste.  Pour the egg mixture over the top of your layers and sprinkle with that last cup of cheese.  

Cook in your crock pot on high for 4 hours.  If you want to start this the night before, cook it on low for 6-8 hours but be prepared to wake up starving!  This smells heavenly and your belly will wake you up wanting a burrito!

Remove the filling from your crock pot and spoon it gently into a tortilla.  Top as you like with sour cream, salsa, sauce or peppers!  

These are super easy to make into burritos and slide them into a Ziplock bag and freeze them.  So convenient for hungry people on the move to grab one, microwave it and go.

I'd recommend these for Christmas morning or any large family gathering where breakfast is served.  We love them and I hope that you do too!