Sausage Tortellini

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

3 italian sausages [Johnsonville, mild]

1.5lb seven chesse tortellini (equivalent of 4 cups, uncooked)

2 (14.5oz) can diced tomatoes

2 large bell peppers  [any color]

1/2 white onion

2tbsp. italian seasoning

3 tbsp. cooking oil (corn or olive)

salt + pepper

Garnish: grated romano chesse

Directions:

 1. PREP:

• Chop bell peppers
• Slice onion and sausage

2. MAKE SAUCE:

• Heat large large french skillet, add oil
• Add onions to hot oil, saute until translucent (about 2-3 min.)
• Add add bell peppers, cook for another 4 minutes.
• Once cooked take from heat into a container, set aside
• In remaining oil cook sausage, once cooked re-introduce veggies to skillet
• Add diced tomatoes, italian seasoning, salt + pepper to taste
• Set heat on low cover and let simmer for 20 minutes.

3. COOK TORTELLINI:

• Cook according to package directions

4. PLATE:

• In shallow plate place pasta, top with sausage sauce and romano chesse.
• ENJOY!!!

MOM’S MACARONI

Servings: 10

Nothing is more comforting than macaroni and cheese …. except my MOM’S MACARONI! Try this ez side dish instead of the same old mac-n-cheese, your kids will love it! Its a whole new creamy yummy-ness!

Ingredients:

24oz uncooked small elbow pasta

2lbs roma tomatoes

3 large garlic cloves

1/3 white onion

1/3 cup tomato sauce*  

3 tbsp. cooking oil

2 tbsp. chicken bouillon

1 tbsp. smoked paprika

3 tbsp. tomatoe paste

1 cup sour cream [make it figure friendly substiture w/ fat free]

salt

Directions:

1. Prepare tomato sauce:

• Blend tomatoes, garlic and onion until liquified
•  Heat large fry pan over high heat until very hot, add oil
• Add tomato sauce to hot oil
• Add chicken bouillon, paprika and tomato paste, stir until combined
• Let sauce come to boil then lower heat to a simmer, cover and let it cook for 20 minutes

2. Cook pasta.

• Add 4 liters of water, 1 garlic clover, 1/4 onion and 2 tbsp. to large pasta pot.
• Bring water to a boil
• Add pasta, cook for 8 minutes
• AFTER pasta is cook, drain except for 1/4 cup of pasta water, reserve for later

3. Combine tomato sauce & pasta:

• Add tomato sauce and pasta water to sauce
• Check sauce for salt, add to taste
• Add cooked pasta to sauce, stir until all of pasta is drenched in sauce
• Add cup of sour cream, stir until evenly distributed, cover and cook for another 5 minutes on low

4. Plate and ENJOY! ***

*** You can make this recipe a complete meal by adding raw shrimp to sauce 10 minutes before adding pasta -or- by adding a grilled chicken breast on top!