Creamy Tomato Sausage Tortellini

1 lb ground Italian sausage
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cans condensed tomato soup
2 tbsp sun dried tomato paste (or Italian tomato paste)
1 ½ cups milk
2 cups half-and-half
2 cups (1 can) chicken stock
1 tsp onion powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 pkg cheese filled tortellini
½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Brown sausage in a large pot with garlic and olive oil.  Add soup, tomato paste, milk, half and half, chicken stock and seasonings.  Bring to a simmer.  Add tortellini and cook according to package directions (8-10 mins).  Serve with shredded Parmesan cheese.

Pasta Chicken Salad

5-6 chicken breasts
2 bags curly pasta (1 colored, 1 plain)
2 cans pineapple tidbits (drain juice to soak apples)
4 cups grapes (2 red, 2 green)
4 cups diced red apples, soaked in pineapple juice
1 can cashews, halves and pieces
1 cup mayonnaise
1 bottle Kraft coleslaw dressing

1. Boil chicken with onion and salt until done.  Dice chicken into bite size pieces.
2. Cook and drain pasta.
3. Combine mayo and dressing in separate bowl.
4. In large bowl combine chicken, pasta, pineapple, grapes, and apples.
5. Toss with dressing mixture.
6. Add cashews just before serving.

Recipe Author: Danielle Peterson

"Souper" Macaroni & Cheese

3 cups cooked noodles
1 can cream of mushroom soup (I use cream of chicken soup)
1/2 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon mustard
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
generous dash of pepper
french fried onions


Combine all ingredients and put in a casserole dish a bake at 350 for 45 minutes {put the french fried onions for the last five minutes}

Quick Fix: combine all ingredients in a large microwave safe bowl. Nuke for 2 minutes, stir, nuke for 2 minutes, stir, continue until it's all uniform, hot and melted.

It tastes better the next day as leftovers!

Baked Spaghetti

1 Tbsp. Oil
1 lb. Ground beef
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cans tomato soup
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. Thyme leaf
6 ounce tomato paste
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
2 can sizes of water
1 minced garlic clove
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. basil leaf
3/4 lb Spaghetti Noodles
Make Pasta accordingly.
While pasta is boiling, mix together oil, onion, thyme, Italian seasoning, garlic clove, and basil leaf in small bowl. Microwave for one minute. Set aside.
Brown ground beef, drain.
Add mixture.
Stir in soup, paste, water, salt, pepper, bay leaf and 1/4 cup of the cheese. Cook on low for 15 minutes. Add pasta.
Put in 8x10 pan sprayed with cooking spray. Top with remaining cheese.
Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

Pasta Fagioli Soup

2 cans of beef broth
1 can of Great Northern beans, drained.
1/2 link of Kielbasa Sausage, diced.
1 can of diced tomatoes, undrained. (I used Italian Tomatoes)
2 medium zucchini, quartered lengthwise and sliced.
1 tbs. olive oil
1 ½ tsp. minced garlic
½ tsp. dried basil leaves
½ tsp. dried oregano leaves
½ c. uncooked tubetti, ditali pasta
½ c. garlic croutons
½ Parmesan cheese

1. combine broth, beans, tomatoes with juice, zucchini, oil, garlic, basil, and oregano in slow cooker. Mix well. Cover; cook on low for 3-4 hours.
2. 2. Stir in pasta. Cover; cook on low 1 hour or until pasta is tender. (just threw pasta in to begin with)
3. Serve soup with croutons and cheese. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.

Prep time: 12 minutes
Cook time: 4-5 hours
Makes 5 – 6 servings.

This is super easy and a crowd pleaser! YUM YUM!

Alfredo With A Twist

Kielbasa Alfredo

Penne noodles (prepared according to package)

½ of a link of kielbasa sausage (they come in 16 oz. packages)

½ red bell pepper

½ orange bell pepper

Jar of alfredo ( I used Cheesy Ragu Alfredo)

1 T. salt

Preparations:

1. Cook pasta as directed on package with 1 T. salt
2. Slice kielbasa in bite size pieces, in a skillet lightly brown sausage.
3. In a small saucepan, heat jar of alfredo
4. Chop bell peppers, and then toss them in with sausage for last 3 min.
5. Combine all ingredients and serve.
6. (optional) for garnish, sprinkle parmesan cheese and a couple sliced peppers.

Total time: 20 min.

Really easy, really cheap, not too many ingredients! By Karen Brothersen