Okay Gentlemen, it’s Flu Season and that special someone you have had your eye on for a while tells you she is sick in bed…What do you do???

CREAMY TORTELLINI SAUSAGE SOUP

Let me start by saying everything I am going to show you how to cook really is pretty simple. I have never had any formal cooking training nor was I raised by a family that spent much time around a dinner table. Sometimes you have to fail a few times before you succeed. I have created a step by step guide in order to ease that process.

Before we get started I will suggest some quality music to enjoy while you cook. You should always enjoy cooking and there is no better way to do so than listening to good music and drinking a fine wine while you cook. Today I’m going to suggest a personal favorite of mine… Carla Bruni. If you are not familiar with her work, you should be. Start with her 2003 album titled “Quelqu’un m’a dit”

Now that we have selected our music lets go over the necessary ingredients.

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 LB each of sweet and hot Italian sausage

2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic

1/3 C. all purpose flour

1 box 48 oz. chic broth

3/4 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning

1/8 teaspoon Tony Chachere (or salt works fine too!)

1/8 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama seasoning

1/4 teaspoon white pepper

1 20 oz. package refrigerated cheese tortellini (homemade is better if you have time but in a pinch this will do)

2 (12 oz.) cans evaporated milk

1 package fresh baby spinach (about 6 cups)

shaved Parmesan cheese-for garnish

(You can also add mushrooms and onions to the recipe but I am not a fan)

Heat oil in a dutch oven or large soup pot over a medium heat.  Saute garlic for about 2 minutes–being careful as not to brown the garlic–this will add a bitter flavor to the soup.

Remove the casing from the sausage and crumble into the pot.

Add White Pepper and Tony Chachere (I use this stuff in everything)

Stir in flour until well blended.

Gradually stir in chicken broth.

Add Italian seasoning and bring heat up to medium high.

Once slightly boiling reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Add tortellini and simmer for an additional 3 minutes. These delicious little ring shaped pasta are stuffed with three kinds of cheese.

Add in evaporated milk and bring back to a simmer.

Stop and refill your wine.

Adding Slap Ya Mamma isnt absolutely necessary but I chose to because it makes me smile.

Stir in the spinach a handful at a time.

Stir thoroughly.

Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Ready to serve.

ENJOY!

I really hope you all enjoyed this cooking post. Thanks for looking and feel free to contact me by email at Mr.Wristi@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Carter’s Cooking Wear: Panerai Radiomir Chronograph PAM 288 on a Jules Verne Nubuck Gator strap