TORTELLINI CHOWDER RECIPES

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven or kettle, cook the chopped onion, the red sweet pepper, the green chili pepper, the garlic, and the jalapeno pepper in the 1 tablespoon butter or margarine for about 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender, but not brown.
• Carefully stir in broth, potatoes, cumin, salt, black pepper, and ground red pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes or until potatoes are just tender.
• In a small bowl or custard cup, stir together flour and 2 tablespoons melted butter; add to soup mixture. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 1 minute.
• Reduce heat and add corn, half-and-half, and tortellini. Heat through. Ladle into warm soup bowls and top with fried tortilla strips or broken chips. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan combine broth, salsa and orange peel.
• Bring to a boil then reduce to low and simmer 3 minutes.
• Stir in tortellini and vegetables.
• Raise heat and cook over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes or until tortellini and vegetables are ender.
• Stir in milk and salt to taste.
• Heat a few more minutes until nice and hot, but do not boil.
• Serve garnished with fresh cilantro.
• Note: If you use frozen tortellini, add before the vegetables and cook for 4 to 5 minutes before you add vegetables and then cook until vegetables are done.