I'm in the cooking mood...

We have lots of snow + a high of 30 today! It seems like now that I'm feeling better + the morning sickness has disappeared I'm much more in the mood to cook. It's my favorite thing to warm up our house with yummy dinners. These two recipes are some of my all time favorite ways to do just that:

Tortellini Soup

(gotta try it, it's soooo good)

1 pound mild Italian sausage

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup water

2 cans beef broth

1/2 cup apple juice

3 carrots, sliced

1 (28oz) can crushed tomatoes

1 t. basil

1 t. oregano

1 cup zucchini (optional)

4 T. parsley, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

8 oz cheese tortellini (I like the baritolli kind that you can buy next to the noodles on the shelf, but the refrigerated or frozen kind works as well)

fresh grated Parmesan cheese

In a large soup pan, brown sausage. Drain fat + add chopped onion + garlic + cook until tender. Add water, broth, apple juice, carrots, tomatoes, basil, oregano, zucchini, parsley + green pepper. Simmer for 30 minutes or longer. Add tortellini 5 to 10 minutes before serving + cook until tender, but not soggy. Garnish with parm.

Autumn Wild Rice

(always a huge hit)

2 (6oz) pkgs long grain + wild rice mix

1 med. red or green apple, unpeeled + diced

1 green onion, minced

1/4 cup dried cranberries or golden raisins (I always use craisins)

1/4 cup minced fresh parsley

1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted (in skillet until slightly golden)

1/4 cup butter, melted (I use about 1/2 of that)

2 t. poppy seeds

1 t. grated lemon rind

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 T. apple juice

In med sauce pan, cook rice according to pkg directions. In a large serving bowl, combine apple, onion, cranberries, parsley + almonds. Add cooked rice + toss. In a small bowl, combine melted butter to apple juice with whisk. Pour over rice mixture + toss to combine. Serve immediately.