Italian Sausage Soup with Tortellini

Time: 1 hr 30 mins Servings: 8

Ingredients:

1 lb. sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
1 C. chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
5 C. beef broth
½ C. water
½ C. red cooking wine
4 large tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1 C. thinly sliced carrots
½ Tablespoon packed fresh basil leaves
½ teaspoon dried oregano
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 ½ C. sliced zucchini
8 oz. fresh tortellini pasta
3 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1. Brown sausage.

2. Saute onions and garlic in sausage drippings. Stir in beef broth, water, wine, tomatoes, carrots, basil, oregano, tomato sauce, and sausage. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered for 30 mins.

3. Skim fat from soup. Stir in zucchini and parsley. Simmer covered for 30 mins. Add tortellini during the last 10 mins.

4. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese on top of each serving.


**I always add more vegetables then the recipe calls for. I also just use dried basil and parsley rather than fresh. Everyone changes recipes to their personal preference. I cannot promise that yours will be the same as mine because I only use this recipe as a guideline J Hope you Enjoy!

****This came from one of my Mother's friends.

Time: 1 hr 30 mins Servings: 8

Ingredients:

1 lb. sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
1 C. chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
5 C. beef broth
½ C. water
½ C. red cooking wine
4 large tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1 C. thinly sliced carrots
½ Tablespoon packed fresh basil leaves
½ teaspoon dried oregano
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 ½ C. sliced zucchini
8 oz. fresh tortellini pasta
3 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1. Brown sausage.

2. Saute onions and garlic in sausage drippings. Stir in beef broth, water, wine, tomatoes, carrots, basil, oregano, tomato sauce, and sausage. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered for 30 mins.

3. Skim fat from soup. Stir in zucchini and parsley. Simmer covered for 30 mins. Add tortellini during the last 10 mins.

4. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese on top of each serving.


**I always add more vegetables then the recipe calls for. I also just use dried basil and parsley rather than fresh. Everyone changes recipes to their personal preference. I cannot promise that yours will be the same as mine because I only use this recipe as a guideline J Hope you Enjoy!

****This came from one of my Mother's friends.

Crock Pot Pork Chops

3 thick cut pork chops w/o bone
3 celery stalks, finely chopped
1 med. sliced onion
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 packet McCormick Hawaiian seasoning
1/2 can pineapple juice with chunks
1 yellow pepper, diced
1 red pepper, diced
Olive Oil

Marinate meat with olive oil and seasoning packet for several hours. I usually do this the day before I plan to eat this meal. Then place meat in a skillet and brown both sides of pork chops. Place in crock pot with pineapple chunks, pineapple juice, garlic and onions. Cook on low for at least 5 hours. Then add celery and peppers and cook for another hour. Shred pork chops and serve mixture over rice.

3 thick cut pork chops w/o bone
3 celery stalks, finely chopped
1 med. sliced onion
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 packet McCormick Hawaiian seasoning
1/2 can pineapple juice with chunks
1 yellow pepper, diced
1 red pepper, diced
Olive Oil

Marinate meat with olive oil and seasoning packet for several hours. I usually do this the day before I plan to eat this meal. Then place meat in a skillet and brown both sides of pork chops. Place in crock pot with pineapple chunks, pineapple juice, garlic and onions. Cook on low for at least 5 hours. Then add celery and peppers and cook for another hour. Shred pork chops and serve mixture over rice.

BBQ Meatballs

1 ½ lbs beef or pork or mixture of both (I only use beef)
1 large slightly beaten egg
½ c Italian or Plain bread crumbs
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
½ cup milk
1 tsp oregano
2 tsp parsley
1 cup Beef Broth
1 1/4 cup BBQ sauce

Mix all ingredients except beef broth and BBQ sauce. Roll into medium sized balls. Cook @ 350 for 25 minutes. Move meatballs to crock pot to keep warm. In the meantime, heat BBQ sauce and beef broth mixture over medium-high heat until hot and slightly bubbling. Pour over cooked meatballs. Serve immediately. You can serve these over rice or serve them with fresh vegetables or as a starter by themselves for parties.


** 1 point per meatball for weight watchers.

1 ½ lbs beef or pork or mixture of both (I only use beef)
1 large slightly beaten egg
½ c Italian or Plain bread crumbs
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
½ cup milk
1 tsp oregano
2 tsp parsley
1 cup Beef Broth
1 1/4 cup BBQ sauce

Mix all ingredients except beef broth and BBQ sauce. Roll into medium sized balls. Cook @ 350 for 25 minutes. Move meatballs to crock pot to keep warm. In the meantime, heat BBQ sauce and beef broth mixture over medium-high heat until hot and slightly bubbling. Pour over cooked meatballs. Serve immediately. You can serve these over rice or serve them with fresh vegetables or as a starter by themselves for parties.


** 1 point per meatball for weight watchers.

Breakfast Bowls

2 Tbsp butter
8 large eggs
1- 16 oz. bag frozen hash browns or Tater Tots, thawed
1 lb pork sausage
1 lb bacon
1 9 oz. package cheese and roasted garlic totellini
10 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, grated (about 2 1/2 cups)

In a large skillet, melt the butter and scramble the eggs. In a separate large skillet, cook the hash browns according to package directions. In a third large skillet, break up the sausage with a wooden spoon and cook until browned. Drain off excess fat. Transfer the sausage to a bowl. cook the bacon in the same skillet. Drain on paper towels and set aside. cook the tortellini according to the package directions. Layer a large bowl with hash browns, sausage, bacon, tortellini, eggs, and cheese. Serves 4.

2 Tbsp butter
8 large eggs
1- 16 oz. bag frozen hash browns or Tater Tots, thawed
1 lb pork sausage
1 lb bacon
1 9 oz. package cheese and roasted garlic totellini
10 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, grated (about 2 1/2 cups)

In a large skillet, melt the butter and scramble the eggs. In a separate large skillet, cook the hash browns according to package directions. In a third large skillet, break up the sausage with a wooden spoon and cook until browned. Drain off excess fat. Transfer the sausage to a bowl. cook the bacon in the same skillet. Drain on paper towels and set aside. cook the tortellini according to the package directions. Layer a large bowl with hash browns, sausage, bacon, tortellini, eggs, and cheese. Serves 4.

Beef or Pulled Pork Burritos

1 Beef or Pork roast
1 jar salsa
2 cups brown sugar
1 can coke

Brown beef in skillet with small amount of oil on all sides. Place in crock pot and add all other ingredients. Cook on low all day for 6 to 8 hours. Serve with tortillas shells, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, diced green onions, shredded cheese, sour cream, or tomatillo ranch dressing found below. The best!

Tomatillo Ranch Dressing
1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Buttermilk Dressing
1 c. buttermilk
1 c. plain yogurt or mayonnaise
3 tomatillos
2 cloves of garlic
1 c. fresh cilantro (washed and stemmed)
1/2 t. Cayenne Pepper

Put all ingredients into a blender and puree. Refrigerate and serve with Pork Tacos!

11 point weight watcher meal

1 Beef or Pork roast
1 jar salsa
2 cups brown sugar
1 can coke

Brown beef in skillet with small amount of oil on all sides. Place in crock pot and add all other ingredients. Cook on low all day for 6 to 8 hours. Serve with tortillas shells, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, diced green onions, shredded cheese, sour cream, or tomatillo ranch dressing found below. The best!

Tomatillo Ranch Dressing
1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Buttermilk Dressing
1 c. buttermilk
1 c. plain yogurt or mayonnaise
3 tomatillos
2 cloves of garlic
1 c. fresh cilantro (washed and stemmed)
1/2 t. Cayenne Pepper

Put all ingredients into a blender and puree. Refrigerate and serve with Pork Tacos!

11 point weight watcher meal

Breakfast Burritos

1 bad (16 oz) southern-style hash browns
12 eggs
1 green pepper, diced
1 lrg onion, diced
1/2 lb to 1 lb jimmy dean sausage or may use bacon too.
1/2 lb mushrooms chopped
3 c. shredded cheddar cheese
Salsa (optional)
sour cream (optional)

In a large skillet, fry hash browns according to package directions. Remove and set aside. Brown sausage in large skillet and drain grease. Add mushrooms and onions and peppers to skillet. Add hash browns and eggs cook until eggs are done. Serve on tortillas with salsa and sour cream.

1 bad (16 oz) southern-style hash browns
12 eggs
1 green pepper, diced
1 lrg onion, diced
1/2 lb to 1 lb jimmy dean sausage or may use bacon too.
1/2 lb mushrooms chopped
3 c. shredded cheddar cheese
Salsa (optional)
sour cream (optional)

In a large skillet, fry hash browns according to package directions. Remove and set aside. Brown sausage in large skillet and drain grease. Add mushrooms and onions and peppers to skillet. Add hash browns and eggs cook until eggs are done. Serve on tortillas with salsa and sour cream.

Delicious Hot Dogs

6 hot dogs
1 Tbs butter
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. pepper
4 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. mustard
4 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
1/4 c. Ketchup
4 Tbs vinegar

Melt butter, cook onion until clear. Add other ingredients. Cut 3" slit in each hot dog, and place in a flat baking dish with slit side up. Pour sauce over all. Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve on buns with extra sauce.

6 hot dogs
1 Tbs butter
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. pepper
4 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. mustard
4 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
1/4 c. Ketchup
4 Tbs vinegar

Melt butter, cook onion until clear. Add other ingredients. Cut 3" slit in each hot dog, and place in a flat baking dish with slit side up. Pour sauce over all. Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve on buns with extra sauce.

Meatballs:

1 ½ lbs beef or pork or mixture of both (I only use beef)
¼ cup parmesan
1 large slightly beaten egg
½ c Italian bread crumbs
2 Tbsp minced garlic
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
½ cup milk
1 tsp oregano
2 tsp parsley

Mix all ingredients. Roll into medium sized balls. Cook @ 350 for 25 minutes. Add to spaghetti sauce and simmer.

1 ½ lbs beef or pork or mixture of both (I only use beef)
¼ cup parmesan
1 large slightly beaten egg
½ c Italian bread crumbs
2 Tbsp minced garlic
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
½ cup milk
1 tsp oregano
2 tsp parsley

Mix all ingredients. Roll into medium sized balls. Cook @ 350 for 25 minutes. Add to spaghetti sauce and simmer.

Bow Tie Pasta:

¾ lb sweet Italian sausage
1 med onion
1 ½ cup heavy cream
2 tbs. fresh parsley or 1 tbs. dried
½ tsp dried red pepper flakes
2 cloves garlic
1 can Italian tomatoes (28 oz)
½ tsp salt or to taste
1 box of bow tie pasta

Put a large pot of water on to boil. Use the point of sharp knife to slit the sausage casings. Remove the casings, & cut the sausage into 1” chunks. Peel & chop the onion. Peel and chop garlic. In large skillet, heat the olive oil over med heat. Add the sausage & cook for 7 min or until the onion is soft & the sausage is brown. Drain the canned tomatoes & chop them. Add can of tomatoes, cream & salt to the skillet. Simmer over low heat for 4 min or until the mixture thickens. Cook bow ties in boiling water according to package to an AL Dente consistency. Drain well. Add the drained pasta to the sauce. Cook for 2 min. Add parsley and red pepper flakes. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving. Serves 6.

¾ lb sweet Italian sausage
1 med onion
1 ½ cup heavy cream
2 tbs. fresh parsley or 1 tbs. dried
½ tsp dried red pepper flakes
2 cloves garlic
1 can Italian tomatoes (28 oz)
½ tsp salt or to taste
1 box of bow tie pasta

Put a large pot of water on to boil. Use the point of sharp knife to slit the sausage casings. Remove the casings, & cut the sausage into 1” chunks. Peel & chop the onion. Peel and chop garlic. In large skillet, heat the olive oil over med heat. Add the sausage & cook for 7 min or until the onion is soft & the sausage is brown. Drain the canned tomatoes & chop them. Add can of tomatoes, cream & salt to the skillet. Simmer over low heat for 4 min or until the mixture thickens. Cook bow ties in boiling water according to package to an AL Dente consistency. Drain well. Add the drained pasta to the sauce. Cook for 2 min. Add parsley and red pepper flakes. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving. Serves 6.

Breaded Pork Chops:

4 pork chops
Mix together:
3 c. soft bread crumbs
2 tbsp finely chopped onion
¼ c melted butter or margarine
¼ c water
¼ tsp poultry seasoning

Mix 1 can of cream of chicken soup with 1/3 c water; set aside. Brown chops in cooking oil & place in shallow dish. After lightly mixing above ingredients to make stuffing, place a mount on top of each pork chop. Pour soup mixture over chops. Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until tender.

4 pork chops
Mix together:
3 c. soft bread crumbs
2 tbsp finely chopped onion
¼ c melted butter or margarine
¼ c water
¼ tsp poultry seasoning

Mix 1 can of cream of chicken soup with 1/3 c water; set aside. Brown chops in cooking oil & place in shallow dish. After lightly mixing above ingredients to make stuffing, place a mount on top of each pork chop. Pour soup mixture over chops. Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until tender.