Favorite Tortellini Soup

Perfect for entertaining!

1 lb Italian sausage or ground turkey

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 C chopped onions

1/2 C water

5 C beef broth

2 T apple cider vinegar

1/2 C dry red wine ( i don't have this, so I never put it in... still delish)

1 C carrots, chopped

1 can diced tomatoes (i hate tomatoes, so I blend mine up first. No more nasty tomato chunks. You can do whatever you please with yours though!)

1 can tomato sauce (8 oz.)

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp basil

1 1/2 cups sliced zucchini

8 oz package cheese tortellini

Brown sausage, onions, and garlic. Drain and rinse if you want (would suggest if you use the sausage or a poor quality turkey. High grade turkey doesn't need so much). Add everything to pot EXCEPT zucchini and tortellini. Bring to a boil and reduce to simmer for 20 minutes, uncovered.

Add tortellini and zucchini. Bring to a boil. Simmer covered for 30-40 minutes (you may add more broth if necessary).

Eat!!!! I usually serve with garlic bread or homemade breadsticks (see Kathleen's earlier Breadstick post for the exact recipe I use as well!)

Famous Karoly Honey Wheat Bread of Deliciousness

This is my absolute favorite bread recipe. It makes of a delicious yet healthy bread.

Anything with *** is an optional ingredient. It will add to the nutritional value and/or the structure of the bread, but is not necessary. I WOULD suggest using the wheat gluten though. It is best to use wheat gluten any time you are using whole wheat flour (1 T wheat gluten to 1 C wheat flour).

For 2-3 loaves:

2 1/2 C warm water

2 1/2 T yeast

3/4 C honey

Mix these together first. I make mine in a Kitchen Aide cuz it's fast and easy.

Add 1 at a time, always mixing:

***1-2 T liquid lecithin (double if using the powder)

4 C whole wheat flour

4 T wheat gluten

1 T salt

1/2 C cooking oil

3-4 C white flour

***2 T dough enhancer

Once bread is all thoroughly mixed, let the machine knead it a little longer, about 5 minutes. remove from bowl and place in a greased bowl. Let rise till doubled (60-90 minutes). Remember, this is a wheat bread, so it is dense and will not rise as fast as just white breads. Once doubled, punch down, shape into 2 loaves (sometimes I put it into 3 loaves, they will be slightly smaller but I like it better) and place in greased pans. I grease them with crisco, I find they come out MUCH easier. Let rise till doubled (about 45-60 minutes) and bake for 20-30 minutes at 350 degrees. Release onto cooling rack immediately.

I make honey butter to go with the bread. Jam is also delicious. You can eat it plain though and you'll be just as happy. Enjoy!

Laura's Amazing Apple Turkey Croissant Sandwiches

Here's the recipe for the tasty sandwiches I served at Meleece's baby shower last year. They are my own invention and I am super in love with them. Someday, when my husband is a millionaire, I'll start my own corner cafe and bakery and this will be a HIT! Enjoy!

For 8 sandwiches

1 lb Sun dried tomato deli turkey breast meat (i know this sounds bizarre, but you CAN find this, or something akin to it at most grocery stores, like Walmart/Tom Thumb/Kroger, and it adds SO much to the mix of fantastic flavors in this sandwich!)

1 pkg Muenster cheese slices

2 gala apples, cored and sliced horizontally, so you can see a little circle where the core was (any other sweet, crunchy apple would work, just as Jazz, Ambrosia, or Fuji)

1 head romaine lettuce

1 batch of Laura's Amazing Sandwich Spread (recipe to follow)

8 croissants (cut in half like a bagel)

Compile like so, from bottom to top: bottom half of croissant, 1 slice Muenster, 2 slices turkey, 1-2 slices apple, 1-2 leaves lettuce, Laura's amazing spread on underside of top half of croissant.

If you like your sandwiches toasted, feel free to first toast the croissant with the cheese and the turkey open faced and THEN add everything else!

Laura Amazing Sandwich spread

1/2 pkg Cream Cheese, softened

1 tsp cinnamon

1 Tbsp honey

1 Tbsp maple syrup

Mix together! Can be made ahead of time and saved in refrigerator for a few days to a week.

Meagan Harrison's Pulled Pork Burritos

Hello!

Well, I was introduced to this marvelous recipe on my first weekend here in Dallas when the Harrison's invited us foreigners over for dinner. It was the most DELICIOUS thing ever. I don't like pork. I just don't. But THESE, I can eat these for always. I have made them countless times since and shared them with many of you! Yep. So, by popular request, here is her recipe!

Pulled Pork Burritos

1 boneless pork tenderloin
1 1/2 c ketchup
8 heaping Tb brown sugar
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
3 Tb apple cider vinegar
4 Tb Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp salt
4 cloves of garlic

Cook in crock pot for 6-7 hours.

Usually at about 5 1/2 - 6 hours I pull the pork out and shred it with a fork and put it back in the juices for about a half an hour. Put on soft tortillas and serve with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, whatever you like!

Here's the recipe for the dressing that the Harrison's like to put on it. I'm not a fan of ranch so I never make it but it is huge with everyone else ; )

Tomatillo Ranch Dressing

1 packet hidden valley ranch dressing
1 c buttermilk
2 tomatillos
1/2 bunch cilantro
1/2 tsp lime juice

Mix together in blender and keep refrigerated.