My beloved autumn days feel like they’re almost over when in fact winter doesn’t even begin for almost another two months.  Last week I dragged out the heating blanket for the couch and I turned on the heat for the first time.  (Well, technically my husband turned it on, while I sat on the couch covered in two blankets and still freezing my butt off.) It’s that time of year where I start to crave hot foods to help keep warm.  This hearty Italian sausage soup has a broth base and it’s loaded with hot Italian turkey sausage, orzo, roasted red peppers, …

My husband and I like to lead a simple life.  Some people strive for drama and chaos, but not us.  I generally make simple meals because I find that small ingredient lists of delicious things make the best meals.  This time however, I wanted an extra simple meal.  There is nothing complicated about a hearty pasta fagioli soup.  This version tastes nearly identical to Olive Garden’s Pasta e Fagioli, full of assorted beans, beef, pasta, and wonderful seasoning. Pasta Fagioli Soup Recipe (Makes about 8 servings) Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef 1 small onion, chopped (equivalent to 1 cup) 1 large …

It was cool this past weekend here in CT and I was not mentally prepared for it.  I feel like the cooler temperature came out of no where, maybe because we had a really hot and humid summer.  It seemed like it was time to drag out my over sized sweatshirt, which used to belong to my husband.  When I first met him about 7 years ago, he used to wear this orange sweatshirt  quite often.  Once we got to a certain level in our relationship, I “suggested” that he retire that sweatshirt because it had seen better days.  He …