Crock Pot Cheese Tortellini Soup

I saw this recipe on Pinterest and had to try it.  It comes from Little Fellows.  This is my new FAVORITE soup!!  I love how easy it is!  I am modifying the recipe by recommending adding the spinach during the last hour, so that it will stay green and not turn brown, but it tastes fine either way.  I actually added some at the beginning, but couldn't fit it all.  I added the rest during the last hour, that is why you can see some green spinach and some that is brown'ish'.

Crock Pot Cheese Tortellini Soup

Ingredients:

1 bag of frozen tortellini (10-12 oz)
1 small bag of fresh spinach
2 cans of Italian style diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)
1 box or 4 cups or chicken broth
1 block of cream cheese (8 oz), cut into cubes
1 lb. of roll(ground) sausage (I used hot)

Directions:  Brown the sausage and put all ingredients(except spinach, if you want it to stay green) in crock pot. Cook on low for 3-4 hrs.  If you don't add the spinach at the beginning, add it ~1 hour before serving.  If the 'sauce' is too thin, leave the lid off during the last 1/2 hour of cooking and it will thicken slightly.  I topped mine with some grated Parmesan cheese.

Soft Italian Breadsticks

I made these breadsticks to go with our Alfredo last night.  We really liked them.  They were SO good dipped in the alfredo sauce.  For me...the sauce and breadsticks could be my entire meal.  I adapted the recipe that I found here.

Soft Italian Breadsticks

Ingredients:

Dough

1 cup warm water (70 to 80)
3 tablespoons soft butter
1 ½ teaspoons salt
3 cups bread flour (I used all-purpose flour)
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast

Topping
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Place all dough ingredients in your mixer(Kitchen-Aid or Bosch).  Mix well and knead in mixer for 5 minutes.  After the dough kneads in the mixer turn it out onto a floured board and divide dough in half.  Cut each portion into 12 pieces and roll each piece into a 4 to 6" rope.  Take 2 'ropes' and twist together.  Place 2" apart onto greased baking sheets.  Cover and let rise in a warm place for about 20 minutes or until doubled.  Bake at 350° for 10 minutes, brush with butter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, return to oven and continue to bake for another 5-7 minutes or until golden brown.  Note: Be careful not to overbake or they will become tough.

Better Than Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce

So...yesterday I was craving Alfredo.  When I found this recipe online, I decided to try it.  I'm glad I did.  It was easy and YUMMY!!  I don't eat at Olive Garden very often (unfortunately)...so...I'm not really sure if this Alfredo sauce is better than Olive Garden, but I can say...that it is very good!!  I topped our pasta with some sauteed mushrooms and it was DELICIOUS, if you like mushrooms, I would definitely recommend adding them!!

Better Than Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons sweet butter

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves , minced
2 cups heavy cream
¼ teaspoon white pepper (I used fresh ground black pepper)
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
¾ cup mozzarella cheese
1 (12 ounce) box angel hair pasta

Directions:  Melt butter in medium saucepan with olive oil over medium/low heat.  Add the garlic, cream, white pepper and bring mixture to a simmer.  Stir often.  Add the Parmesan cheese and simmer sauce for 8-10 minutes or until sauce has thickened and is smooth.  When sauce has thickened add the Mozzarella cheese and stir until smooth. STIR FREQUENTLY.  While the sauce cooks, boil noodles for 3-5 minutes.  Place pasta on serving plates and spoon sauce over pasta.