Cranberry Bars

Do you have a hard time figuring out what to do with leftover cranberry sauce after the holidays? Cranberry Bars are the answer to your problem! Super simple and super yummy.

Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• baking spray https://amzn.to/4gFUk8T

• nonstick foil https://amzn.to/42OOApZ

• flat parchment https://amzn.to/3ELsaf3

• 8x8 professional baking pan https://amzn.to/3WX0zOt

Cranberry Bars

makes a 8x8-inch baking pan

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

For the filling:

• 1 to 1 1/2 cups leftover cranberry sauce (try my delicious recipe here)

For the crumb crust and topping:

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats

• 1 cup light brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon table salt

• 12 tablespoons (6 ounces) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F and place rack in center position.

2. Prepare a 8x8 baking pan with baking spray or line with non-stick foil, or make a parchment sling (spray any exposed pan edges with baking spray).

3. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt.

4. Using your finger tips, incorporate the softened butter into the flour/oat mixture by squeezing and kneading together until no dry ingredients remain.

5. Press 2/3 of the flour/oat mixture into the bottom of the baking dish, spread the cranberry sauce evenly on top, and sprinkle the remaining flour/oat mixture over the cranberry sauce by dropping 1/4-inch blobs all over.

6. Gently press the crumb topping down and bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.

7. Remove from oven and cool completely before slicing.

Notes

• If doubling this recipe, use a 9x13 pan.

• You may substitute an equal amount of fruit filling or jam for the cranberry sauce.

Sausage and Tortellini Soup

It’s soup season and soup season makes me very happy. This particular soup is incredibly flavorful and gets two thumbs up from my family, despite being made from just a few simple ingredients. If you keep fresh tortellini in the fridge and precooked sausage in the freezer, you can have steaming bowls of hot soup ready as little as 20 minutes.

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Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• 6 quart stockpot https://amzn.to/3Di9OSg

• beef bone broth https://amzn.to/3ZMGVFk

• beef stock https://amzn.to/3P1DlSK

• cannellini beans https://amzn.to/3BzxO2W

• cheese-filled tortellini https://amzn.to/3ZYiztJ

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Sausage and Tortellini Soup

makes 6 hearty servings

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 6 cup beef bone broth or beef stock

• 1 pound crumbled sweet italian sausage, cooked and drained

• 16 ounces frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, green beans, corn, okra, etc)

• 3 cups cooked cheese-filled tortellini

• optional garnish: grated parmesan, croutons (try my recipe), chopped scallions, chopped parsley

Directions

1. In a 6-quart stockpot, heat beef bone broth, cooked sausage, and vegetables until hot and bubbly.

2. Place 1/2 cup cooked tortellini in each bowl and top off with hot soup.

3. Garnish if desired and enjoy!

Notes

• To make this soup even more hearty, add a can of drained cannellini beans.

• To prevent the tortellini from getting soggy, don’t add them to the soup bowls until serving.

• Leftover soup and cooked tortellini should be stored separately to prevent the tortellini from becoming mushy.

• I like to keep portions of cooked sausage in the freezer so I can throw this soup together even faster.