Tortellini Tuscan Stew

Yummy! And a crock pot recipe, so easy and delicious!

1 (2-pound) butternut squash, peeled and seeded, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 large zucchini, cut in 1-inch chunks
1 large yellow summer squash, cut in 1-inch chunks
1 large onion, diced
1 large red bell pepper, cut in 1/2-inch dice
4 ounce(s) thin green beans, trimmed and cut in 2-inch lengths
1 can(s) (28-ounce ) crushed tomatoes
1 can(s) (14 1/2-ounce) vegetable broth
2 tablespoon(s) fresh oregano, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoon(s) chopped garlic
3/4 teaspoon(s) salt
1 package(s) (9-ounce) fresh cheese tortellini
1 bag(s) (5-ounce) baby spinach
3 tablespoon(s) grated Parmesan cheese

Combine all ingredients, except tortellini, spinach, and Parmesan cheese, in a large slow cooker. Cover and cook on high 3 hours or low 6 hours. Uncover; turn slow cooker to high and stir in tortellini. Cover: continue to cook 15 minutes, or until pasta is almost tender. Uncover; gently stir in spinach and Parmesan. Cover; cook 5 minutes until spinach is cooked down and tortellini is tender. Smile and enjoy :)

Pork and Sauerkraut

Early dismissal from school today gave me enough time to make a real meal in our crock pot! Had just about everything on hand which made things really easy:

5 Pork Chops (boneless, about 1/2 inch thick)
1 bag of Sauerkraut (I used the one pound bag from Giant)

1 large onion diced

1 cup of applesauce

3 tablespoons of brown sugar

2 teaspoons of Caraway seeds

2 cloves minced garlic

1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar

5 Small to Medium Potatoes cut in halves or thirds

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl except for the pork chops and the potatoes. Put about a third of this sauerkraut mixture in the bottom of the crock pot. Add the pork chops and potatoes and top with the remaining sauerkraut and all the liquid in the bowl. Cook for at least 4 hours on high, more is even better. We also had a dinner roll and some delicious white wine :)