Italian Tortellini Soup Recipe

I had this soup at a friend's house a month or so ago & then tried it at home a couple days ago- delicious! 

ITALIAN TORTELLINI SOUP

IN OLIVE OIL SAUTE:

1 C. DICED CELERY

1 1/2 C. ONION DICED

3 CLOVES OF GARLIC

ADD THE FOLLOWING & SIMMER FOR 45 MIN. :

1 1/2 LBS OF ITALIAN SAUSAGE *(COOKED)

6 C. CHICKEN BROTH

3 T. SUGAR
2 BAY LEAVES
1/2 t. THYME
1/2 t. OREGANO
1/2 t. PARSLEY
1 CAN TOMATO SAUCE OR TOMATO PUREE
2 CANS DICED ITALIAN TOMATOES

(I tried the sausage two different ways- with 1/2 of it I squeezed it out of the packing & broke it up.  With the other half, I cooked it first & then cut it up. Make sense? It obviously didn't affect the taste in any way, but it looked prettier (if that's possible) cooked & then cut.)

AT THE END ADD 1 PKG (FROZEN) CHEESE TORTELLINI. HEAT TIL SOFT.

*YOU CAN ALSO USE 1/2 HAMBURGER INSTEAD OF ALL SAUSAGE...THE MORE SAUSAGE YOU USE THE SPICIER IT IS :) (I actually did this, simply because I had extra hamburger in the fridge & needed to use it.  It could've been a bit spicier, but was still delicious!)

Serve with cornbread to make it extra yummy! 

and also... don't forget to enter for the CSN Stores giveaway- you can literally buy anything! 

Baking with B

In our first adventure into the kitchen, B helped me make M's birthday cake.  I decided it was time... he's capable of helping :) The Huz has a special cake, orange cake, & it's delicious (incredibly fattening & sugary, but delicious nonetheless).

We tied on an apron ...

grabbed a spoon...

Hy-Vee store brand? Yep, we roll that way... especially since HyVee doesn't pack their cake full of hydrogenated oils & high fructose corn syrup - that makes it a winner for us!

adding the jello & using a whisk...

helping pour... we made two (one for me to take to M & one for B to share at the grandparent's house)

we now have a scrunchy face & he loves to make it when I whip out a camera

last minute touches before it bakes...

And unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of the end product- dang! 

Orange Cake

1 box of yellow cake

1 packet of orange jello

3/4 cup oil

3/4 cup water

4 eggs 

glaze

2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup orange juice

Mix the above ingredients in a bowl. Pour into a greased cake pan. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.  Poke holes (with a fork) in the very warm cake & cover with glaze. 

Enjoy! And be happy that I didn't tell you the calorie content :)