Cheesy Chicken Tortellini Soup

I adapted this recipe from one I found on the Craftaholics Anonymous site Cheesy Chicken Tortellini Soup Recipe . It looked so good and easy. I did make a few adaptations, but essentially its the same. My notes are in red.

Cheesey Chicken Tortellini Soup Recipe

2 – 12.5oz Canned Chicken, drained -  I used 2 freshly sliced and poached chicken breasts.

2 – 14.5oz Canned Chicken Broth

3 – 10.5oz Cans Cream of Chicken Soup

1 – 15 oz Canned Corn, drained 

1 – 14.5oz Green Beans, drained

1 – 15oz Canned Carrots, drained

Instead of canned veggies (Previous 3 ingredients), I used 3 bags of frozen mixed veggies (Ours were on sale, and I dislike the taste of canned green beans.

2 cups Water

1 Medium onion, diced - I used a whole onion, diced. Ben loves onion...

3 Tablespoons Garlic Powder

1 teaspoon Basil

½ teaspoon Oregano

½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese - I used 2/3 Cup, mostly by accident, but it was good.

30oz Frozen Cheese Tortellini

 DIRECTIONS

In a large pot, combine all ingredients except the Parmesan Cheese and Cheese Tortellinis. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Simmer for 20 minutes and then add Parmesan Cheese and Cheese Tortellinis. Simmer for another 10 minutes. I like to serve with this soup with rolls or breadsticks.

Creamy White Turkey Chili

This is a recipe I've had for a few years now. I got it from a former roommate, Kris. Its so yummy and I give her total credit for this delicious Turkey Chili.

Ingredients
1 lb Ground Turkey
1 medium Onion
1 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
3 cans Great Northern Beans - drained, rinsed
1 1/2 cups Chicken Broth
8 oz Green Chilies
1 tsp. Salt
1 Tbl Ground Cumin
1/2 tsp Pepper
1 cup Sour Cream
1 pint Heavy Whipping Cream
1 Block Cream Cheese
2 Cups Jack Cheese

Directions
Brown turkey, onion and garlic powder. Add cream cheese and heat until melted.
Transfer to crock pot. Add remaining ingredients.
Heat on high 3- 3 1/2 hours, Low 7 hrs.

Serve with crackers or fresh French Bread.

Black Bean Taco Soup

This is a recipe I stole from  www.sixsistersstuff.com. I ran across this site while looking for a good recipe for taco soup. It was super easy to make and Ben loved it! It will be made in this house multiple times this winter, I'm sure of it.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey tastes so good in this recipe too!)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 package mild taco seasoning mix
1 16 oz can corn (undrained)
1 16 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed (you could use kidney beans or pinto beans)
1 14 oz can stewed tomatoes
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1 4 oz can diced green chilis
tortilla chips
Other taco toppings you like (cheese, sour cream, avocado, etc)

Directions:
Brown meat and onion, drain.
Stir in taco seasoning, corn, black beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, and green chilis. Simmer on low heat for 20 to 30 minutes.
Serve with tortilla chips and your favorite toppings.

This makes an easy freezer meal too! After cooking, let soup cool down and then dump into a gallon-sized Ziploc bag or other freezer container. When you want to eat it, let it thaw in the fridge for 24 hours and then simmer on the stove until heated all the way through or microwave until heated all the way through. You could also put it in your crock pot and cook on low for 2-3 hours to re-heat it.

Tater Tot Casserole

2/3 bag of Tots
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 can of Evaporated Milk
1 lb ground hamburger
1 whole chopped Yellow Onion
4 Tbl chopped Green Onion
Grated Cheese- to taste
Dash of Cayenne Pepper
1 can of corn- or equivalent in frozen corn

Brown ground beef with the yellow onion. Drain. Mix soup and milk with green onion. Place 1 layer of tots on bottom of 9x13 casserole dish. Pour corn over tots evenly. Pour 1/2 of soup mix over tots & corn. Layer grated cheese and the ground beef & onions. Pour remaining soup and cheese over the top. Sprinkle lightly with cayenne pepper.

Bake 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes.

Chicken Pillows

• 3 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
• 3 Tbl Butter (2 Tbl for mixture, 1 Tbl for top)
• 2 C. Chicken, cubed and cooked
• 1/4 tsp. Salt
• 1/4 tsp. Pepper
• 2 Tbl Milk
• 1 Tbl Chopped Green Onion
• 1/2 of small can of Diced Green Chilies
• 1 small can of Sliced Mushrooms, drained
• 3/4 C. seasoned Bread Crumbs
• 8 oz can of Crescent rolls
• 1 can of Cream of Chicken soup

Blend Cream Cheese, and 2 Tbl of melted butter until smooth. Add next 6 ingredients and mix well. Separate crescent rolls. Divide meat mixture into roll, and then bring the tail of the roll up to cover the mixture. Brush with melted butter and roll in bread crumbs. Cook on ungreased baking sheet, 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Serve with mashed potatoes or rice. Use remaining mixture, and can of Cream of Chicken, mix together, heat and serve as a gravy for the mashed potatoes or rice.

Marinated Baked Pork Chops

I really love these Pork Chops. Ben liked that they were a little sweet without being to overly saucy. I doubled the recipe for the sauce, as I wanted to serve with potatoes as the gravy.

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 6 pork chops, trimmed

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a small bowl, thoroughly blend soy sauce, vegetable oil, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, brown sugar, and ketchup.
3. Place pork chops in a medium baking dish, and spread with 1/2 the sauce.
4. Bake pork chops 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Turn, and spread with remaining sauce. Continue baking 30 minutes, or until internal temperature of the chops has reached 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).
   
   
   
   

No-Bake Dreamsicle Cheesecake Recipe

I made these the other day for Ben & I. They were so good that they disappeared before I got a picture. I got the recipe from Craftaholics Anonymous, love this site. http://www.craftaholicsanonymous.net/no-bake-orange-dreamsicle-cheesecakes-recipe

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2-3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 tablespoons orange zest (zest of 1 large orange)
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
• whipped cream
• 4 orange sugar candies

Directions:

Beat the cream cheese in a stand mixer, on medium, or food processor until smooth. Add the orange juice, orange zest and vanilla extract. Pulse/mix until everything is well-combined. Then slowly add the powdered sugar. When everything is well combined, turn off your machine.

In the bottom of each glass, evenly place 2 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs. Distribute the cheesecake mixture into the glasses so that it is evenly distributed amongst your glasses. Put the glasses in the refrigerator to chill and set for 2-3 hours.

After the cheesecakes set, top the cream cheese mixture with whipped cream. Garnish with an orange candy.

Note: Taste the cream cheese mixture before assembling to see if you want to add an additional teaspoon of vanilla extract.