Soups On!

Was it cold this week or what?  I'm from Montana and it sure felt like deja vu!  We knew how to dress for the weather and when it got cold outside a hot bowl of soup sounded just right!  I love soup and a hearty bread to go along with it.  These next couple of weeks I want to post some of my favorite soup recipes along with some holiday recipes I've started to make.  I've started to build my annual Gingerbread house early this year and take pictures of the process so those will be posted also.  

My first soup recipe is one I've posted before and think its a great one to start the season off with.  It is healthy, easy to make and seems to hit the spot!

Spicy  Sausage Tortellini Soup

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup minced onions ( about 1/2 small onion)

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 pkg diced kielbasa ( I like Hillshire Farms Polska Kielbasa)

1 large can V-8 juice (4 cups)

2 cups chicken broth

1 (14 ounce) crushed tomatoes (w/ liquid)

1 tablespoon Basil

1 (9 ounce) packages fresh tortellini

10 ounces fresh spinach

1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions

In a pot, heat olive oil and sauté onion and garlic until onions are translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Add sausage and cook another 1-2 minutes.  Add V -8 juice, broth and tomatoes, turn heat up to high, and bring to a boil.  Add the tortellini and simmer another 15 minutes.

When tortellini is almost done, add spinach and taste, adjusting seasonings with salt and pepper.  Serve and garnish each serving with a sprinkling of parmesan.