Keeps gettin' better...

This week is ridiculous...last night's dinner was great, tonight's totally hit the spot, and I can't wait to try tomorrow's! Thursday is the icing on the cake cause it's something I don't make very often but I absolutely love it...Friday I will be in a food coma for sure. :)

So I promised I would share tonight's recipe for Italian Tortellini Soup from the Dierberg's cook book (via my sister, Carrie) and I'm not one to disappoint so here it is! The best part about this soup is that it automatically makes three dinners! Read on to find out more...

Here's how it works...

Italian Tortellini Soup

Buy It...
2 pounds bulk Italian sausage (I bought salsiccia cause I couldn't find bulk mild Italian)
1 pkg. (10 oz.) shredded carrot
2 medium onions, chopped
2 green bell peppers, chopped
4 cans (14 oz. each) beef broth
2 cans (16 oz. each) kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
1 pkg. (20 oz.) frozen cheese tortellini

You will also need...
2 Tbls. Italian seasoning
3 (6-cup or larger) reusable freezer containers (tupperware)
3 (1 qt.) freezer-weight reclosable plastic bags

Cook it...
In large soup pot or Dutch oven, brown sausage and drain off excess fat. Combine cooked sausage with veggies and cook until veggies are tender. Add broth, beans, and seasoning.

Divide and freeze...
Divide mixture among three 6-cup (or larger) freezer containers. Divide tortellini into three 1 qt. freezer bags. Label each container with recipe name, date, and "heat it" instructions. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Heat it...
Defrost container of soup in microwave on 50% power for 20 minutes. Place soup base in a large soup pot or Dutch oven. Add 2 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil. Add frozen tortellini and return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until pasta is tender, about 15 minutes.

I froze two containers and went ahead with the "heat it" directions tonight for our dinner and it was delicious! Served it up with a little cheddar beer bread made from Homemade Gourmet's World Vision Basic Bread Mix and it was the perfect fall meal! And now I can have it two more times with very little effort...BONUS!! :)