Saturday, January 10, 2015

Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup

I love finding new soup recipes to try. It's winter, and so, it's pretty chilly outside. Because of this, I have been in a soup making mood. I have been trying to make a new soup once a week. A great thing about having soup is that it goes great with sandwiches like paninis. My amazing boyfriend got me a panini grill for Christmas, and it's amazing. I have been using it daily. Soup is also easy to make for large families, which I have. 
I purchased some tortellini from the store and decided that I wanted to incorporate into a creamy tomato soup. I found a ton of great recipes. 
This creamy tomato tortellini soup is amazing. I could eat the whole bowl, but I restrained my self. It's really delicious. My family loved it especially with grilled cheese that I made with my panini grill (yummy). I'm drooling just thinking about it.  

Easy creamy tomato tortellini soup


Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup
adapted from The Recipe Critic

Ingredients: 
  • 1 package (9 ounces) refrigerated cheese tortellini (also the tortellini found in the pasta isle works)
  • 2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed tomato soup
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups 2% milk
  • 2 cups half-and-half cream
  • (or 3 cups milk & 1 cup heavy cream)
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese (I used the Italian blend cheese, use what ever is on hand)
  • Additional shredded parmesan cheese for topping, optional
  • Oyster Crackers, optional

Directions: 
  1. Cook the tortellini according to package directions. In a large pot, add the tomato soup, broth, milk, cream, tomatoes, onion powder, garlic powder, dried basil, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium high heat and reduce soup to a simmer.
  2. Drain tortellini and add to the soup. Add parmesan cheese. Serve and sprinkle with additional cheese on top and/or crackers if desired.
  3. Enjoy! 

I hope you enjoy this recipe. Oh, and I hope everyone had a safe and joyous holiday season. 

Peace, love, bake on.

                            Andrea 

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies {my favorite cookie EVER}

Hello world! I hope everyone had a very joyous Christmas and a happy New Year. During the Christmas season I made Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies. To me the holiday equals baking season. I made several batches of these delicious Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. A few times I added both chocolate chips and crushed Andes Mints. I love them. I love going to Olive Garden and getting them when they give you your receipt after paying the check. These cookies came out soft and chewy every time. They are my go oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. 


The best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

The best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are hands down my favorite cookie. I could eat a whole batch by myself. So let that be your warning, they are addicting. Bake and eat at your own risk. Don't let my poor photography shy you away from such a life changing, yummy cookie. 


Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
adapted from Radiant Dust 

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups quick-cooking oats
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (or some other chip)

Directions:
  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. 
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until just blended. Mix in the quick oats, and chocolate chips. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto lightly greased baking sheets.
  3. Bake for 11-12 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. 
  4. Eat up and enjoy. (My favorite is to eat them while they are still slightly warm. I also love to dip them in almond milk.)


The best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

The best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do. Until next time.

Peace, love, bake on.

                                    Andrea  

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Christmas Cupcakes.

It has been a very busy Christmas season. I meant to put up a new post several days ago, but time got away from me. 
Let me first say, Merry Christmas! I hope you and your family have a very blessed Christmas. 
Now, its the day before Christmas, aka Christmas Eve, and you are thinking to yourself, "What can I make for dessert that's festive, creative, and easy to make?" Well, I believe I have the answer for you. Cupcakes. 
Make any cupcake you like and any frosting you like. After piping the frosting on, decorate like this (below). 

Easy Christmas Cupcake ideas and DIYs

Easy Christmas Cupcake ideas and DIYs

You may be wondering what "this" is. All I did was melt some almond bark, put in a sandwich baggie with a small corner tip cut off, and then wrote words with it.  It's really that simple. 
Everyone who saw these cupcakes were amazed. They couldn't figure out how I did it. I basked in the glory of stumping some people. Not only, these cupcakes are festive, and it looks as though I put immense work into them but in all reality, it was pretty simple. 

Easy Christmas Cupcake ideas and DIYs

Easy Christmas Cupcake ideas and DIYs

To make these you will need:
  • Frosted cupcakes
  • Chocolate to melt (almond bark, chocolate chip, Wilton melties)
  • Sandwich baggie, with a small tip cut off in one corner.
  • Wax paper
Directions:
  1. Melt chocolate in a bowl in the microwave. Place a sheet of wax paper on cookie sheet (That's what I do so that it can easily be moved).
  2. After chocolate has melted, spoon some chocolate in the sandwich baggie. 
  3. Now carefully, with the baggie like you were piping frosting, write words on the wax paper. 
  4. Allow to cool (you may put it in the freezer or the fridge so that it will harden quicker or to store)
  5. Carefully remove from wax paper, and place gently on top of frosted cupcake.
  6. Enjoy and be amazed. 
    Easy Christmas Cupcake ideas and DIYs

    Easy Christmas Cupcake ideas and DIYs
           

Easy Christmas Cupcake ideas and DIYs

Have a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to comment or email me. 

Peace, love, bake on.

               Andrea