Ingredients

1 3/4 lb Roma tomatoes (about 9 medium)
1 1/2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion finely chopped (1 1/2 cups)
6 cloves garlic, minced (more or less to taste)
2 quarts (8 cups) low-sodium chicken broth
2 cups water
1 (20 oz) package refrigerated three cheese tortellini
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tsp granulated sugar
6 - 9 oz fresh spinach, chopped
3 Tbsp chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese, for serving

SEE MY NOTES BELOW

Instructions

Heat a pot of water to a boil and fill a medium mixing bowl with ice water. Once water in pot boils, carefully drop tomatoes into water and boil until skins burst, about 3 - 4 minutes (if a few of them are having trouble bursting, you can remove them from the water and cut an "X" in the bottom of the tomato then return to water for about another minute until skins slightly pull alway). Remove from boiling water and transfer to ice bath, cool slightly then peel, seed and dice into bite size pieces, set aside.
In a pot, heat olive oil over medium heat, add onion and saute until tender, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and saute 30 seconds longer. Pour in chicken broth and water, then increase temp to moderately high heat and bring to a boil. Once it reaches a boil, add tortellini, season with salt and pepper to tastes and boil 7 minutes (or longer if directed on tortellini package).
Stir in sugar, tomatoes, spinach and basil and cook until heated through and spinach wilts. Serve warm topped with Parmesan cheese.

MY NOTES

Crostini

1 Baguette
Butter
Fresh Grated Parmesan Cheese

Crostini

Slice baguette into 1/2 inch thick slices. Butter one side and place butter side down in a hot skillet until golden brown. Flip bread slices over and sprinkle with Parmesan while the other side gets golden brown. Transfer to a plate and immediately cover loosely with foil if cheese has not completely melted.

Italian Sausage

1 pound ground Italian Sausage

Heat a large, heavy bottomed pan over medium-high heat. Heat vegetable oil and add diced onion. Saute until onions are soft.
Crumble Italian Sausage and garlic with the onion. Cook until sausage is no longer pink.

Notes

For a creamier soup, add a half cup of Greek yogurt or sour cream.

5 STAR RECIPES