Wednesday, December 16, 2009

'A CHRISTMAS PRESENT' ~ SANTA'S FAVORITE TORTELLINI SOUP

"Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts."

~ Janice Maeditere


SANTA

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HOLIDAY TORTELLINI SOUP

~ Year round favorite ... festive color for the holidays
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6-8 minced garlic cloves
3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 quarts organic chicken (or vegetable) broth
16 oz. tri-color cheese tortellini
(love Monterey 5 cheese Tortelloni, a wonderful blend of parmesan, ricotta, swiss, mozzaarella & romano cheese)
2 28 oz. cans good stewed tomatoes
8 oz. fresh baby spinach leaves (can also use chopped frozen)
2 tsp. dried basil
coarse salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
fresh grated Parmesan cheese
chopped fresh seeded Italian tomatoes (optional)
chopped fresh basil


  • Saute garlic gently in olive oil (careful not to burn).
  • Stir in broth and bring to a boil. Add tortellini and reduce heat to gentle boil (avoid boiling vigorously). Cook about 5 minutes or until tortellini rise to top.
  • Add stewed tomatoes, spinach, and basil; simmer 2 minutes. Season with salt & pepper.
  • Serve soup topped with fresh grated Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh tomatoes (if desired), and chopped fresh basil. (12 servings)
Note: Santa likes this soup with a glass of Michigan Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio and loaf of crusty peasant bread

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

There is nothing like soup on a day like today.

Victoria said...

Super Lovely Joey! Always a fabulous treat to read and enjoy!

Gail said...

Dear Joey, A much needed reminder for this feeling wearied and harried gal. Almost all from my own doing;) for sure. Thank you, dear, gail

Carol said...

Wonderful quote Joey! I love your Santa and soup too!

Anonymous said...

Dear Joey,
Beautiful words and the recipe sounds delicious.
Vickie

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Joey, good to see a post again and happy holidays. P.S. I find it endearing that you ID'd Santa! :)

Anonymous said...

It's perfect soup weather here in Nova Scotia today, and this sounds wonderful! Santa has good taste. :)

Anonymous said...

So nice to see your cheerful recipes and photos, Joey. Thanks for this recipe, we often have tortellini, but not as a soup. We will give it a try, for it sounds quite easy to make. We are making chicken mexican minestrone today to take the chill off our bellies! :-)
Frances

Ann said...

Hi Joey,

Glad to see you back!! Hope all is well.

The tortellini sounds great. Where do you get the five cheese you mentioned?

Take care. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New year!

Ann

joey said...

Indeed MNG ... pots & pots of soup will be simmering on the back burner!

Thanks Kiki! This is a 'tuck away' favorite!

I hear you, dear Gail :) Crazy/Busy here also ... have you had your surgery? Been so involved getting to know my new computer (shame on me) I forgot to check and lost many e-mails in the transfer :(

Thanks Vickie ... Happy Michigan December (we've been blessed so far) and Happy Holidays!

Hi Monica ... of course, Santa must be ID'd :) Catching up since lost data transferring from old PC ... still scratchin' head but moving forward ... 'putting one step in front of the other' :)

Santa has a discerning palate, dear Nancy :) Stay warm!

Do give it a try, Frances ... it truly is a year-round family favorite, often served early on Christmas Eve day before lighting luminaries and going to Children's Mass. (Your chicken Mexican Minestrone sounds like a melting pot of wonderful blended flavors)

Thank you, Carol ... I love my Santa and Santa loves my soup :)

Thanks, dear Ann ... I'm on a learning curve with my new iMac so between that and the holidays, I'm limping but alive :) Costco carries this tortellini almost all year round. Christmas blessings!

donna said...

We certainly have the perfect weather for enjoying soup and this recipe for tortellini soup sounds delish.

I'm still lusting after the crisp mashed potato cakes. Haven't made them yet, but you can be sure I will.

donna

joey said...

I see you're an early riser today too, Donna! Yes, looks like another soup day ... I could easily live on soup! Happy Holidays! (Your trip looks lovely!)

Rose said...

I'm always looking for a new soup recipe, Joey, and this one sounds not only delicious, but so easy! I'm going to try this one as soon as I get to the grocery store to buy some tortellini.
A wonderful quote to remember this season!

Unknown said...

So glad you're posting again, which I hope means you've gotten your woes sorted out with tranferring files from old computer to new best friend! This soup sounds like I need to make it tonight-going out for groceries and errands now so I'll add tortellini to my list. (I'll probably add chicken meatballs to it so hubby doesn't whine about 'no meat'. It's an ongoing struggle...;-)

joey said...

Simple & good, Rose, perfect for a busy schedule ... it just might become a favorite!

Poking my head up again, Jodi. Still much to learn but what I know so far ~ lOVE! Still apprehensive about dragging 70GB of files into iPhoto so working my old way ... have a class on Mon. Enjoy the soup ... the addition of meatballs, perfect for hubby!

Unknown said...

MMMM! I got 5 cheese tortellini AND some with porcini mushroom filling, so the soup is simmering away on the stove. Also found some rosemary pull-apart bread which I'll reheat at suppertime. Soup is a happy thing; Of soup and love, the first is best, some wag did say...

joey said...

Yum, Jodi ... rosemary bread, perfect ... bon appétit!

Roses and Lilacs said...

What a soft and cuddly little Santa.

Soup and a crusty loaf of bread sounds wonderful. Maybe that will be my dinner Saturday evening.
Marnie

joey said...

I love this little Santa, Marnie ... it's actually a sock for my 1st grandchild. After seeing the snow in your post, I can imagine hot soup and a loaf of crusty bread would be perfect to warm the innards :)

Anonymous said...

Mmmm, yummy! Can I stop by for a bowl full of this delicious soup? I have a similiar recipe, and now I'm in the mood for it!

joey said...

Please do drop in, Robin! If not this soup, surely one will be either resting in the frig or simmering on the burner :) Merry Christmas!

Kathryn/plantwhateverbringsyoujoy.com said...

This sounds absolutely scrumptious and perfect for warding off the cold--speaking of which you must be inundated with snow! Yikes! Fortunately your family is in the hands of a woman who will fend it off with the most wonderful of culinary skills and a warm heart to match. Merry Christmas, dear Joey! xoxo

joey said...

Hello dear Kathryn! Big hugs and thank you. I think your loved ones are also blessed by your culinary skills and warm heart :) Merry Christmas ... you are a gift!