Italian Sausage Soup

Can't wait to make this again!!!

Italian Sausage Soup!

·         1 tablespoon olive oil

·         2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

·         1 onion, chopped *

·         1 carrot, peeled & chopped *

·         1 stalk celery, chopped *

·         1 lb Italian Sausage - casing removed and crumbled (I used chicken sausage)

·         1 teaspoons dry oregano

·         ½  tablespoon dry basil

·         1 -2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, to taste  (I used 2 teaspoons and it was WAY too spicy! – I’d only do 1 next time!)

·         1 14.5 oz canned chopped tomatoes with juice

·         4 cups chicken broth

·         1 can cannellini beans

·         1 cup ditalini

*I used a bag of mixipore from Wegmans b/c I am too lazy to cut my own veggies! 

Directions:

1.  Heat olive oil in a large heavy pot over medium high heat.

Cook onion, carrot, celery until tender (about 5 min)

2. Add garlic and crumbled sausage –

cook until sausage starts to brown (about 10 minutes)

3. Add basil, oregano and red pepper – coat the veggies and sausage.

4. Add tomatoes and broth

5.  Bring to a boil. Then simmer soup for about 30 minutes.

6. Stir in beans and pasta and cook until pasta is done

(Or cook your pasta separately so it doesn’t absorb all of your broth!)

7. ENJOY!!!

NOTE:  I cooked my noodles right in the soup which ate up too much of my broth –

I will definitely cook pasta separately next time. 



Granola Bars

Our new favorite snack!   I'll never buy a box of Granola Bars again!!

ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 cup rice krispies
1 cup quick oats
1 cup granola
toppings such as chocolate chips, pb chips, raisins, etc.


1. In a pot, over medium-high heat, add 1/4 cup butter, 1/3 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup honey.  Bring it to a boil, then reduce heat to med-low and cook for 2 minutes.

2. Remove from heat and add 1 cup rice krispies, 1 cup quick oats and 1 cup granola.   Mix well so mixture is evenly coated.

3.  Pour mixture into a foil lined pan and press down firmly with a spatchula. 

4.  Add raisins, chocolate chips or whatever you like and press them into the bars with a spatchual.   Let cool on the counter for 20 minutes and then cut into bars.  Let cool completely and store in an airtight container.