italian sausage and tortelini soup

Ingredients

* 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed

* 1 cup chopped onion

* 2 cloves garlic, minced

* 5 cups beef broth

* 1/2 cup water

* 1/2 cup red wine

* 4 large tomatoes - peeled, seeded and chopped

* 1 cup thinly sliced carrots

* 1/2 tablespoon packed fresh basil leaves

* 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

* 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce

* 1 1/2 cups sliced zucchini

* 8 ounces fresh tortellini pasta

* 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions

1. In a 5 quart Dutch oven, brown sausage. Remove sausage and drain, reserving 1 tablespoon of the drippings.

2. Saute onions and garlic in drippings. Stir in beef broth, water, wine, tomatoes, carrots, basil, oregano, tomato sauce, and sausage. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.

3. Skim fat from the soup. Stir in zucchini and parsley. Simmer covered for 30 minutes. Add tortellini during the last 10 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese on top of each serving.

home sick & new toddy recipe....

 (this is my fake sick face, but i really am home sick.)

going to try this recipe tonight:

Hot Apple-Ginger Toddy
makes one drink

a cup or so of apple cider
1 to 2 ounces of applejack
a drizzle of honey
a squeeze of lemon
peeled fresh ginger root, coarsely chopped
mulling spices (cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice, nutmeg - whatever you have on hand)
Optional garnishes: cinnamon stick stirrer, lemon slice, apple slice, ginger slice

Add the ginger and mulling spices to the cider and simmer in a saucepan over medium-low heat for at least 5 minutes (or a full 15 or more if you want full flavor). Drizzle some honey into a mug and add the liquor, hot cider, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Stir.