butternut squash soup

Good Morning!  I think it's is the transition from Florida back to North Carolina, but I am feeling SO cold...all the time.  It isn't particularly chilly, but something in me keeps craving warm, simple foods.  I guess there must really be something to the idea of a comfort food?!

Luckily for me, soup is the perfect solution to those days when I want something warm and yummy.  AND, even more luckily, this recipe for soup is super easy!  (FYI- I just resisted the urge to type "souper easy."  You're welcome.)  I was at Trader Joe's stocking up and I saw a box of butternut squash soup and inspiration hit.  I grabbed a few other ingredients, some green beans (remember, trying to eat more veggies this year) and some fresh ciabatta bread and we were set.  Try this recipe out- I promise it will be the most painless way to eat some veggies (and bacon) ever!

Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 box butternut squash soup
• 5 strips of bacon, cooked
• 1 small apple, cut into small cubes
• 4 pieces of crystallized ginger, cut into very small cubes
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cook bacon in a large skillet and set aside on a paper towel lined plate.  
2. Heat soup according to package directions.  
3. While soup heats, add crumbled bacon, apple, and ginger to soup bowl.  
4. Pour soup over the bacon, apple, and ginger and garnish with a few more pieces of bacon if desired.  

Enjoy!

xo,

tortellini soup

First of all, thank you for the support and positive thoughts yesterday!  I made it through the exam and it was a doozy...but now I am done and I can focus on Christmas!

This time of year a quick, easy dinner is imperative.  Whether spending the day shopping, wrapping, studying, or juggling kids and holiday parties, no one seems to have enough hours in the day.  This soup is the perfect solution.  It is filling, festive (red and green!) and delicious.  The soup only takes about 15 minutes, but if you know that one night you will really be in a pinch, whip up a batch in advance and just reheat it when you are ready to serve.  

Tortellini Soup

recipe courtesy of the fabulous Annie Egan

Ingredients:

• 3 cans chicken broth (I usually just use one 32 oz box of chicken broth)
• 3 cans of Delmonte stewed tomatoes
• 1 box frozen chopped spinach, or a 6 oz. bag of fresh spinach
• 1 bag frozen tortellini (I usually use a box of the fresh tortellini you can buy in the deli section of the grocery store)
• Italian Seasoning, Salt, and Pepper (to taste)
• Parmesan Cheese (optional)

Directions

• Boil broth and tomatoes (use a LARGE pot- this soup has lots of volume!)
• Add tortellini and boil for 11 minutes (or according to package directions)
• Simmer and add spinach
• Add more chicken broth or tomatoes as needed (if you don't need much, adding water is fine)
• Season with italian seasoning, salt and pepper and top with parmesan cheese as desired

Enjoy!

xo,