Italian Bread Crumbs

I love a simple pantry staple you can make yourself. I usually have a lot of  bread heels from the loaves and random pieces of stale bread and this is a great way to use them up. These bread crumbs makes an especially delicious coating on pork chops, chicken or whatever, they're fabulous! And I know some people hate that "green can" of Parmesan but I feel like it works really well with this bread crumb coating, but if you really hate it, feel free to use freshly grated Parmesan in its place.

Italian Bread Crumbs

6 cups bread crumbs**
2 cups grated Parmesan (green can)
1 1/2 tsp. onion powder
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
freshly ground black pepper to taste
scant 3/4 tsp. Kosher salt
1 TBSP. Italian seasoning
1 1/2 tsp. dried basil
1 1/2 tsp. dried parsley
1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano

Mix all ingredients together and store in the freezer in an airtight container or Ziploc bag.

**To make bread crumbs, pulse stale bread in food processor until crumbs. Then measure out what you need and proceed with the recipe.

Sausage Tortellini Soup

I re-worked a recipe I found online and this was the end result. I made this in my 7 quart slow cooker and it filled it right to the very top edge and was it ever delicious!! My non-soup loving husband even declared it his favorite, so I'm certain to be making this again.

Sausage Tortellini Soup

2 lbs. country sausage or sweet Italian sausage
1 onion, chopped
2 cups sliced or diced carrots
3 (15 oz.) can diced tomatoes
4 - 6 potatoes, peeled and diced
8 cups beef broth
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. dried basil
2 tsp. dried parsley
1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
freshly ground pepper to taste
2 - 3 (13 oz.) pkgs. frozen cheese tortellini

In a large frying pan, brown sausage. Add onion and carrots, cook until onions are tender. Drain. Place in 7 - 8 quart slow cooker. Pour the diced tomatoes, juice and all, into blender and puree until smooth. Pour into the slow cooker. Add potatoes, beef broth, oregano, basil salt and pepper to slow cooker. Stir. Cover and cook on 'HIGH' for 6 hours. About 30-45 minutes before serving, stir in the tortellini using 2 or 3 packages, as you prefer. Once the tortellini is cooked through, serve. Top each bowl with shredded Parmesan.
Makes 10 - 12 servings