Tomato Tortellini Soup w/a Grown Up Grilled Cheese

Tomato Tortellini Soup w/a Grown Up Grilled Cheese

               Make sure you put on Frank Sinatra on Pandora to set the mood! 

Start with Sautéing garlic with the olive oil in a large stock pot until golden brown.  Be sure to keep an eye on it so it doesn't get too brown or burnt. 

Add tomato soup, milk, half and half, chicken stock and spices.  Bring to a simmer.  Once simmering, drop noodles into the soup.

Start cooking your Tortellini according to the directions on the back so they will be ready to throw in to the soup. 

I chopped these small and didn't do half a cup, because  they aren't my favorite and I could find the paste kind.

add all the seasonings, and save yourself time by buy the Italian seasoning you don't have to grind.  I made that mistake and just had my hubs grind it for me. (I don't have the patience) 

Wah Lah!!! Have yourself a merry little sip time! My Husband and I were both so sick and this sure helped our throats and tummies to feel better!  Oh and don't forget to top it with grated parmesan! 

Tomato Tortellini Soup

• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 package (9 ounces) refrigerated cheese tortellini
• 2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) reduced-sodium condensed tomato soup
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2 cups half-and-half (Fat free is okay) 
• 1/2 cup chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes or two tablespoons sundried tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 
  
• Sauté garlic with the olive oil in a large stock pot until golden brown.  Be sure to keep an eye on it so it doesn't get too brown or burnt.
• 
  
• Add tomato soup, milk, half and half, chicken stock and spices.  Bring to a simmer.  Once simmering, drop noodles into the soup.  Cook according to the package directions.  Mine take about 8 minutes.
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Recipe found here: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Tomato-Tortellini-Soup?keycode=ZFB

Toast your pine nuts with olive oil till fragrant....

2 garlic cloves 

I love fresh Basil

Fresh Italian Parsley Leaves....

Put it all into a processor.... 

I used my Hubby's Ninja, and it did the job!

Try and cut yours thin unlike mine, I didn't have a bread knife, so mine was nice a thick.

Now spread your pesto paste (on both sides of bread), add your tomatoes with fresh black pepper...

I put 3 slices of mozzarella cheese on mine, drizzle olive oil on both sides of the bread a toast in the pan till golden brown and until cheese is oozing out from the sides. 

Here is the ingredients/direction for the "Grown Up Grilled Cheese!"  Thanks to my sweet friend Abigail Klein who made this for me back in the good ol' days when we lived right down the hall from one another.  Oh how I miss those fun days of watching GG after cheer practice super late with a glass of vino and some hummus over pita chips! Or our late night grocery store runs at midnight, we would just buy random "healthy" things. Now we have moved our separate ways, but we still skype almost weekly over a cup of coffee.  I love our friendship and I am so grateful we will always stay close, no matter the distance. 

Ingredients

• 4 slices thick-cut sourdough bread
• 1 ball (1 pound) fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 2 plum tomatoes, cut into thick slices
• 1 cup fresh basil pesto, recipe follows
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Extra-virgin olive oil

Basil pesto:

• 1/2 cup pine nuts
• 2 cups fresh basil leaves
• 1 cup fresh Italian parsley leaves
• 1/2 cup Parmesan or Romano
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Directions:

Toast pine nuts in a skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Combine pesto ingredients in a food processor and pulse until well combined but still rough-textured. If you have a panini press, turn it on to warm up; otherwise, set a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Assemble sandwich by smearing insides of bread slices with pesto. Arrange a layer of sliced tomato and season with a few turns of fresh pepper. Layer the mozzarella slices over the top and then place another piece of bread on top to make the sandwich. Drizzle olive oil over skillet's surface and place sandwiches on the hot skillet or panini press. If using a skillet, place another heavy skillet over the top to form a "press". Turn after 2 to 3 minutes and replace weight. The sandwich is ready when golden brown and mozzarella has melted around the edges. Yum!

A Bridesmaid Luncheon to Remember!

I have THE most amazing cousins, Carla and Dave George!!  Thank you both for hosting my elegant Bridesmaid's Luncheon and making it beyond glorious!!

I felt so very special on this day and everything from start to surprise finish had been carefully planned to make my memories of this wedding event indelible. I would love to share with all of you how the day at "Casa de George" aka "Casa de Carla." took place.  The George's have a huge, beautiful Tuscany villa-styled home on top of a hill overlooking Lake Travis.  The view is breathtaking and the surroundings caused our jaws to drop again and again.  Scrumptious appetizers were served as we arrived before lunch. One of my faves was the bruschetta. Upon arrival and after greetings, we immediately started the picture taking in the backyard with the beautiful lake in the background. I had the most wonderful bridesmaids and matrons of honor and we were in a perfect setting to capture the moment with photos.

The luncheon was outdoors and the weather was perfect. The table decorations were lovely and personalized.  Before we were seated, we were guided to a timeline of Chad and my courtship that Carla had made by kindly stealing pictures off of my Facebook (haha)  She put the date of each event and a big picture blown up to compliment the story. We were so wowed by her genius!! :-)   Once the lunch began, I gave a toast and could hardly finish because of the tears that came from my overwhelming feelings of love for my family and friends, and especially talking about my love, Chad.  It seemed surreal and I was trying to soak up every moment of each event because I knew it would all be over in a flash!  Seriously, a FLASH!!  We gobbled up our yummy Italian food and delicious dessert. 

 Bridesmaid's and hostess gifts were handed out.  The bridesmaids were given their own piece of jewelry and was either a hippie turquoise beaded headband or a beautiful necklace or bracelet from Cotton Castle.  They all received turquoise chandelier beaded earrings and turquoise cross bracelets to wear in the wedding.  They were all in a personalized tote with their initials on it.  I also had tee shirts made with our wedding name and date to wear on the wedding day.  SO CUTE!!

Dave and Carla surely know how to throw a party!! and with that said, they had one surprise left for me.  Carla had set up 3 large tables with unfinished bowls, mugs, and plates on them.  She said we were each going to paint them for the bride to have her own personalized set from her wedding party!!  I was thrilled to get to have some new dishes with each one of them hand painted by my best friends and family.  When we finished, Carla had them fired and finished for me to use in my house. This is definitely a gift to remember as each person created some very charming and one of a kind creations.  I absolutely love them!!!

We said our goodbyes and headed to get ready for the next event (rehearsal dinner).  I left feeling so loved and so grateful to have such generous and amazing family and friends!!  I love you Carla and Dave!!  Thank you for giving me a wedding gift I will always cherish.

                                           

And The Finishing Product!!!!