Sausage Tomato Tortellini Soup

1 lb Italian sausage
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
3/4 teaspoon onion salt
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil or you can just leave the grease from the sausage for more flavor :)
2 (14 ounce) cans of tomatoes crushed or diced
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
6 cups beef broth
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
2 tablespoons italian seasoning
1 tablespoon worchestershire sauce
12 ounces dry tortellini or ravioli

Brown the sausage, add remaining ingredients except pasta. Bring soup to a boil, then turn to a simmer and cover for 40 minutes. Cook pasta seperately (do not overcook) and then add to soup right before serving. Garnish with more grated parmesan.

Good Salad

This is truly a salad I could devour on my own. If you like the taste of a subtle Sesame Oil, this is the salad for you. I've used whole wheat noodles and less sugar than the recipe calls for and still LOVE LOVE LOVE it. A good way to get your spinach in if you don't like the taste.

25 servings

3 chicken breasts - cooked, chopped
1 lb rotini or small noodle - cooked, rinsed
1 lb baby spinach
5 green onions -chopped
1 c. sugared almonds

Dressing
1 c. mayo
1/2 c. sugar
3 T. sesame oil
3 T. vinegar
1/2 c. soy sauce

Sugared Almonds
2 T. butter melt in frying pan
1 c. almonds
1/3 c. sugar
cook over medium until sugar carmelizes - stir continually
spread on cookie sheet with wax paper

Cheesy Pasta & Beef Casserole

Cook & drain:
1 lb. lean hamburger
1 chopped onion
Cook until almost done:
4 c. uncooked penne pasta

Combine and stir w/ above ingredients:
1 c. grated cheddar
1 c. grated mozzarella
1 c. tomato sauce

Put into crockpot and top with 3 more T. of tomato sauce and grated parmesan cheese.

Cook low 3-5 hours or 1.5-2.5 on high.

Dreamy Tortellini

Saute:
4 cloves garlic - chopped fine
1 1/2 t. basil
1 T. oil
28 oz. Italian stewed tomatoes

Add & heat thru:
1 c. sour cream
1/4 t. cayenne
1 can evaporated milk

Add & heat thru:
4 oz. wedge parmesan - grated

Pour over cooked cheese tortellini

Goulash

Every once and awhile, I get the craving for this - just like Mom used to make, and just like HER mom used to make.

Brown and drain:
1 1/2 lb hamburger
add:
2 cans tom soup
1 can water
onion powder to taste
s&p to taste
add:
5 c. cooked macaroni

Mix well, serve.

Tortellini and Spinach Soup

1 (10 ounce) package fresh spinach, washed
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 slices bacon, finely diced (optional)
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 medium onion, diced
9 cups chicken broth
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons italian seasoning
1 (9 ounce) package refrigerated tortellini
1 (15 1/2 ounce) can great northern beans, undrained
salt and pepper
freshly grated parmesan cheese

Wash spinach thoroughly and tear into pieces.
Heat oil in large soup pot over medium high heat. Add bacon, if desired, cooking until lightly browned. Add garlic and onion and cook until browned, about 10 to 15 minutes.
Stir in broth, tomatoes and seasoning and bring to a boil.
Add tortellini and simmer just until tender, about 7 to 10 minutes.
Add spinach, salt and pepper to taste and beans. Heat until warmed through.
Top with Parmesan cheese and serve.

Tortellini Rose

A Bit of work, but SOOO worth it!

Marinara
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1-3 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons dry basil
1 teaspoon salt
1 (14 ounce) can tomatoes
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

Alfredo Sauce
8 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated asiago cheese

Pasta
4 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
4 mushrooms, chopped
5 cloves garlic, pressed
1-2 package refrigerated tortellini (, not cheese use meat)

Directions
Marinara: In a 2-quart sauce pan, over medium heat, cook onion and garlic till tender.
Stir in remaining ingredients.
Heat to boiling, stir to break up tomatoes.
Reduce heat, simmer with cover on for about 20 minutes.
Stir occasionally.
I recommend blending it with a hand blender Alfredo Sauce: In small sauce pan, over medium low heat, melt butter.
Just before mixing with pasta, add cheese, stirring until it is melted.
Slowly add cream, heat until thoroughly mixed.
Add to pasta according to directions.
Pasta: Prepare Tortellini according to package directions.
In the meantime, melt butter, add onion and cook until clear.
Add tomatoes and mushrooms, cook until tender.
Add garlic and Marinara Sauce, heat until hot.
Add Alfredo Sauce, mix well until hot.
Add cooked Tortellini, mix well, and serve immediately.
Serves 6 generous portions.

NOTES: Marinara sauce can be prepared a day or two ahead. Garlic is the secret to this dish so use as much as you want. I usually adjust it according to who I serve it to. We love garlic so I use lots! I use a mixture of stuffed Tortellini, like Chicken, Sausage, but try to stay away from cheese stuffed.

Bacon & Tomato Pasta

1 lb bacon (cooked till crisp)
1 (8 ounce) container cream cheese (Chive and Onion flavor)
1 cup milk
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
1/2 cup parmesan cheese (shredded)
6 cups penne pasta (cooked)
Directions
Cook bacon until crisp,then cut bacon into 1/2" pieces.

Drain bacon grease from skillet, add cherry tomatoes saute 1 minute.

Stir in cream cheese & milk, cook until bubbly.

Stir in pasta,bacon pieces and parmesan cheese.

Top with more parmesan if desired.

Spaghetti Pie

6 ounces spaghetti
2 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 lb hamburger
1/2 lb Italian sausage
1/2 cup onion, chopped
8 ounces tomatoes, cut up and undrained
6 ounces tomato paste
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
Directions
Brown and drain the ground beef and sausage. Saute onion until tender and add the tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, oregano and garlic salt. Combine the meat mixture and the tomato mixture, set aside.

Cook spaghetti and combine with butter, parmesan cheese and eggs.

Press mix into a 10 inch buttered pie plate making sure it goes up the sides of the plate making a sort of "pie crust".

Spread ricotta cheese over the spaghetti and fill with the meat mixture.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Sprinkle with mozzerella and bake an additional 15 minutes.

Tortellini Taco Salad

16 oz tortellini, cooked
1 can kidney or black beans, drained
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
2 T chopped olives
1/2 c salsa
1/3 c thousand island salad dressing
1/2 t cumin

Mix salsa, thousand island, and cumin together. Set aside. Combine all other ingredients and top with dressing right before serving.

Stroganoff

1 1/2 lbs hamburger
1 onion, chopped
1/2 t pepper
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 can water
2 c. sour cream
1 t garlic salt

Brown burger with onion; drain. Add remaining ingredients. Heat through. Serve over noodles or baked potatoes.

Parmesan Pesto Pasta

2 cups shredded parmesan cheese
1/2 c. butter
1 c. milk
1 c. half and half
4 T. prepared pesto or 1 envelope of knorr or mckormick pesto sauce mix
1 lb cooked penne pasta

In large saucepan, combine all ingredients except pesto and pasta. Stir over med heat until cheese is melted. Add pesto and simmer for 5-7 minutes, until sauce thickens. Mix with pasta. (can include grilled chicken in this if you wanted to for a main dish)

PASTA

spaghetti
goulash
stronganoff
lasagne
mac & cheese
fettucini
herb noodles
buttered
tuna casserole
stuffed shells
pasta salad
w/ pesto
w/ clam sauce