Recipes by Request

So, on facebook, I mentioned that I had beer bread in the oven and turkey tortellini soup on the stove.  I had a few requests for the recipes...so here they are!

Beer Bread

• Preheat oven to 375
• Mix 3 cups flour, 3t. baking powder, 1/4 cup sugar, 1t. salt, and 1-12oz beer.
• Pour into a greased loaf pan.
• Melt 1/4 cup butter and pour over dough.
• Bake 1 hour, remove from pan and cool for at least 15 minutes.

*I don't bake it for an hour, I only end up baking it 40ish minutes.  I think this part is a preference thing.  :-)

Turkey Tortellini Soup

1 lb. ground turkey (browned and drained, if needed)
1 large onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
4 cups beef or chicken stock
1/2 tsp. dried Italian herb seasoning
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 - 7 1/2oz can tomato sauce
1 -19oz can tomatoes, chopped, with juices
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 -10oz package fresh or frozen cheese filled tortellini
1 zucchini, quartered lengthwise and sliced
1/4 cup fresh parsley
2 T. Parmesan cheese

1.  Brown turkey and transfer to slow cooker.
2. Add onion, carrots, stock, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, tomato sauce, tomatoes and mushrooms to slow cooker.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6-10 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, or until vegetables are tender.
4. Cook tortellini according to package directions. Drain.
5. Add zucchini, parsley and tortellini to slow cooker and cook on high for 15 - 20 minutes, or until zucchini is tender.
6. Spoon into individual bowls and top with grated cheese.

*Okay, this is one of those that you really can substitute wherever you would like.  I sure did!  I do not eat mushrooms, so I added a small squash.  I also had a box of frozen chopped spinach, so I let that thaw (and drain) and added that.  AND, I cooked it on the stove top.  I cooked it for about an hour total, putting the things listed in step #5 in the last 20 minutes.  Oh, and I am sure I put more tortellini in than it called for.  ;-)  FYI...the original recipe called for Italian sausage...not turkey.  See...you can substitute anything!  :-)

(Just a little update: My husband and I recently joined WW...and this makes 12 servings, serving size 1 cup.  4 points per serving.  I figured the points based on my substitutions for the recipe and with no Parmesan cheese.)