Sausage Tortellini Soup

 

This is one of those meals that's easy peasy and oh my goodness have we needed easy this week.  For those who may not know, we are a foster family.  We have a teeny, tiny, new placement this week and we're running on the NO sleep that comes with infants and the LOADS of stress and anxiety that comes with dealing with the agency workers.  I'm supposed to be eating Paleo right now, but in this moment, survival is the name of the game and I need quick, easy, no fuss, meals to get us through.  I was so thankful to come across this recipe and I had to share it with you.  I made tweaks to the original and pieced together several recipes to omit what we don't like and add in what we do and the final result was loved by all.  You can use either squash/zucchini OR fresh spinach...my kiddos like the squash version because they don't enjoy the texture of cooked spinach.  You could also use the squash AND spinach...who am I to tell ya what to do?  Also, I'm sleep deprived and apologize if this reads wonky.  Enjoy!

1 lb. sausage

1 (8oz.) block of cream cheese, cubed

4 cups chicken broth

2 cans diced tomatoes

1 (20 oz.) package frozen cheese tortellini

2 yellow squash and/or zucchini with the middles hollowed out, chopped 

OR

3 cups fresh spinach

Turn a 6qt or 8qt Instant Pot to Saute.  Add the sausage and cook until crumbled and browned.  (If you don't have an instant pot, brown it in a skillet and add it to your crock pot.)

Once the sausage is done, add the broth, diced tomatoes (with the juices, don't drain the tomatoes), and the cubed cream cheese.

If you're using an Instant Pot, use the Slow Cooker function and set it to Low for 4 hours to allow the cream cheese to melt.  (If you're using a crock pot, same deal...Low for 4 hours.)

After 4 hours, use a whisk to break up the cream cheese until the soup is nice and creamy and smooth.

Add the chopped squash and frozen tortellini and cook on Low an additional 30 minutes.  (If you're using spinach, add it to the soup just a few minutes before serving.)

This is delicious served with crusty bread and a salad.  My kiddos also LOVE a grilled cheese sandwich with it.