Homeade tomato basil tortellini soup with grilled cheese

This was a perfect weekday comfort food meal. Who doesn't love any reason to have grilled cheese, ok maybe that's me.

1 diced yellow onion
2 Tbsp olive oil
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 (28 oz) cans whole Roma tomatoes
1 small can tomato paste
1 (32 oz) carton chicken broth
1/3 cup chopped basil
2 bay leaves
1 Tbsp granulated sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
16 oz refrigerated three cheese tortellini
3/4 cup heavy cream
Parmesan, shaved for serving

In a large stockpot add the oil and saute garlic and onion on medium until soft. About 5 min.

Add in the seasonings, basil, tomatoes, paste, and chicken broth. Simmer covered on med/low for 20 min.

Remove the bay leaves and we either place in blender (careful hot steam) or use an immersion blender which I used. Blend until smooth.

Add in cream and bring to low boil, add tortellini and cover. Cook about 10 min stirring occasionally until tortellini cooked through.

Serve topped with parmesan and on the side of a yummy grilled cheese.

Breakfast Casserole

I have remade this dish several times its so fantastic and everyone in the house seems to enjoy.

1 2 lb bag tater tots
2.5 cups shredded cheddar
Dried parsley 2 tbsp
4 large eggs
2 cups milk
5 slices of bacon cooked and crumbled
1 lb regular sausage
1/2 tsp onion powder
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350

In a skillet cook the sausage through, breaking it in to crumbles as its cooked.

While sausage is cooking in a bowl wish together the eggs, onion powder, milk, salt, and pepper.

Add sausage to the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish. Top with 2 cups of cheese, then poor in the egg mixture.

Top with tater tots and bake 35 min.

Add remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bacon, bake for another 5-10 min until tots look golden colored. Garnish with parsley.

I serve this with sour cream as a meal of its own or to go with mini pancake muffins as a breakfast for dinner party.

Follow me on pinterest to see several recipes I've tried and ones I plan to try. @deesnider

French onion pasta casserole

This recipe is for one of those nights where you don't have time to babysit the stovetop. So, who doesn't love French onion dip, we'll try it as a pasta so yummy. Here's the recipe!

1 rotisserie chicken shredded (I used just the breast meat as my preference but you could add the dark too)

1 lb egg noodles cooked

2 cups shredded cheddar

1 16 oz French onion dip

French fried onion crumbled for the topping

2 cans cream of chicken soup  (I used 98% fat free version)

Preheat oven 350

Mix in a large bowl the dip, soup, and cheese. Add in cooked noodles and mix to combine. Spoon in to a 13 X 9 casserole dish that has been sprayed with non stick.

Too with crumbled fried onions, bake 25-30 minutes until the bubbly.

I served with a French bread cut length wise and coated with olive oil and minced garlic; baked at 400 degrees for 10 min.

Plate and serve.

This is a super rich dish I would recommend some salad or green veggie as a side to cut it down but so tasty.

Chicken skillet lasagna

So this was an idea I got from watching # food network and I love getting ideas I can make quickly for a weeknight dinner.

Picture coming soon as issue with my blogger app.

16 oz bow tie pasta
3 chicken breasts cut in to bite size pieces
1 jar marinara (I used one that was tomato basil)
1/2 onion diced
3 cloves garlic minced
3/4 cup ricotta
Shredded parmesan 1/2 cup
Italian seasoning
Olive oil
Salt and pepper

Start with seasoning your chicken with Italian seasoning. I just eyeballed it about 1.5 tbsp and added salt and pepper. Saute in a little oil until done about 4-5 min each side on medium. Remove and set aside.

Boil noodles as per the box instructions.

In the same pan from the chicken add a little more oil and saute the onions and garlic about 4 min. Until translucent.

Add tomato sauce and simmer for 8 minutes

Drain pasta and mix in to sauce, add the chicken, stir in parmesan and ricotta.

Plate and top with more parmesan if desired.