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Welcome to Simple Fare, Fairly Simple. This is a place for me to post recipes of all kinds...along with other miscellaneous fodder from my so-called life here in the south. Who knows what you will find here. Could be anything from my husband...known as IT Guy...to my kids and beautiful grandbabies that are growing up way too fast right before my eyes. But...mostly this will be a place for food. I hope you'll see something you like and if you decide to try something from the list...leave me a comment and let me know!



Monday, February 13, 2012

We haven't had the coldest winter here in the south. A year ago Christmas, we had snow...this last Christmas was  kind of a warm day. I keep waiting for the cold weather to show up so I can make more soup. Because cold weather = soup! Well, guess who's tired of waiting? This girl! So I made this the other day and it worth the wait! So yummy! The one thing I didn't put in this...and honestly didn't think about until I was eating it, was red pepper flakes. That would have really improved the zing factor. If you're not a zingy type of person, then leave it out...but if you like spicy, then by all means, add it! I'm going to next time!

Italian Tortellini Soup



1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
5 cups beef broth
1/2 cup water
1 large can diced tomatoes
1 cup thinly sliced carrots
1 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 ½  tablespoons dried parsley
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups sliced zucchini
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
8 ounces fresh tortellini pasta
Fresh grated parmesan cheese for sprinkling

Directions

In a large Dutch oven, brown sausage. Remove sausage to a plate. Reserve a couple of tablespoons of the drippings.

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

Simmer covered for 1 hour or so. Add tortellini during the last 10 minutes.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese on top of each serving.



The shtuff....


Brown the sausage in a dutch oven. 
Remove cooked meat to a bowl.


In the same dutch oven, saute the 
garlic and onion in the drippings for a few minutes.


Add everything to the pot, including 
the cooked sausage, EXCEPT the tortellini. 
Allow to simmer for about an hour or so.


Add the tortellini to the pot and....


... cook for about 10 minutes until 
the tortellini are done. Is done? Whatevs.


Serve it up with some french bread 
and fresh grated Parmesan cheese!