Hearty Chicken Tortellini Soup with Meatballs

Winter is now upon us, and there is nothing better than warming up with a hearty and delicious bowl of homemade chicken tortellini soup. This soup is a favorite in our house all through the cold weather season.

This soup is a great starter for any meal or, this soup can be a meal in itself. The soup is filled with chicken, tortellini, and meatballs,  all in this flavorful chicken broth. This soup is sure to fill you up on a cold winter day.

This is just one of the many soups we enjoy in the cold weather season, so stay tuned for more delicious soups.

INGREDIENTS:

 Soup:

• 12 oz bag of Fresh or Frozen Tortellini
• 2 Tomatoes
• 1 bag celery
• 1 bag carrots
• 1 big onion
• 2 or 3 large bone-in chicken breasts
• Vegetable or chicken bouillon
• 1 or 2 cans of chicken broth 

Meatballs:

• 1 lb. beef/veal/pork mixture
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
• Garlic salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Cut up tomatoes into 4 sections each
2. Cut onion into 4 to 6 sections
3. Clean celery and carrots
4. Put all vegetables and chicken breasts in a large stock pot, cover with water, and come to a boil
5. Reduce heat and let this cook for 45 minutes to one hour
6. While this is cooking make your meatballs
7. Add Parmesan cheese, garlic salt, egg, breadcrumbs, and pepper to the meat and mix thoroughly
8. Shape into small meatballs and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes
9. Using another pot under a strainer drain the broth, and discard the tomatoes and onion.
10. Cut the celery and carrots into small pieces and add to the broth
11. Shred the chicken and add to the broth
12. Add 2 or 3 vegetable or chicken bouillon cubes and chicken broth if more liquid is needed
13. Add the tortellini, and return to the stove, bring to a boil until the tortellini is cooked
14. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

As always thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy this easy chicken tortellini soup.

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Low Fat Vegetarian Enchiladas

Vegetarian Enchiladas right out of the oven

You can find some great enchiladas in Mexico, or you can whip up a nice lunch or dinner of low-fat vegetarian enchiladas in your own kitchen in about 30 minutes.

So the next time you're having some friends over for margaritas, and you need to serve a nice lunch, these enchiladas will be sure to please your friends.

This recipe is from my son Sam the Chef; he graduated from culinary school in 1997 and ever since has been coming up with all kinds of great recipes. 

You can check out his Facebook page, Cooking with Monaco.

If you're like me you can spice it up a bit with some hot or mild sauce, I prefer the hot.

INGREDIENTS

1 can of fat-free refried beans

1/2 bag of Boca Crumbles

1 can of mild Rotel

1 tsp of taco seasoning

5 whole wheat soft taco shells or tortillas

1 small can of enchilada sauce

1 - 8oz bag of fat-free shredded cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  In a small pot, combine the re-fried beans, Boca crumbles, Rotel, and taco seasoning.
2.  Heat this over medium heat until the beans are soft.
3.  Fill each tortilla with 2 spoons full of the mixture
4.  Roll and place in a baking dish side by side
5.  Pour the enchilada sauce over the top and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.

Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Cook time: 20 Minutes

Ready In:   30 Minutes

Serves: 2 to 3 people

Enchiladas originated of course in Mexico, and are very popular with street vendors. There are so many varieties of enchiladas. You can fill them with beef, vegetables, chicken, or seafood.

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How to Cut and Light your Cigar

First Let's Cut Your Cigar

If you've been smoking cigars for a while, then this advice will not be new to you. Please read on and if you happen to disagree with my advice or you have something more to add, please feel free to let me know in the comment section below.

Now that you have your premium handmade cigar in hand, what do you do? Well, the first thing to is is take a look at your newfound pleasure. At this point, there is no need to remove the cigar band.

Removing the cigar band at this point may damage the wrapper, if you insist on removing it wait until the heat of the cigar loosens the glue.

There are several tools to choose from to cut your cigar. The "guillotine" will make a straight line cut across the head. The "V cut" will cut a wedge into the head, and the "pierce" will punch a hole into the center of the head.

My choice and my favorite is the guillotine, as it never fails me. I've used all of the tools to cut my cigars and always come back to my guillotine cutter. Now that's just my preference, you may very well like one of the other methods better.

Now that you have chosen your cutting tool, take note of where the cap meets the wrapper. Do not cut past this point as you will cut into the wrapper and this may cause your beauty to unravel.

This is where size matters, if the cut is too big it will result in excess smoke and heat and will cause a bitter taste, and your cigar will smoke too fast.

A cut too small and your cigar will be too hard to draw on, and the taste will be ruined by an excess of tar and nicotine.

The perfect cut will be just smaller than the diameter of the cigar. This will enhance your experience and your smoking pleasure.

Now Let's Light Your Cigar and Enjoy



Now the way you light your cigar will determine how it will burn and taste. Too much flame will cause the foot to burn and turn black and cause the cigar to have a bitter taste.

The flame should never touch the cigar, as a matter of fact, don't even put the cigar in your mouth yet. Hold the cigar in your hand about 1/4" away from the flame turning the cigar so the heat is toasting the edge of the foot.

You gently begin to draw when you see the smoke rising for the edge of the wrapper on the foot. Now continue to gently draw as you turn the cigar to make sure you have an even burn.

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What is a Good Cigar?

You may be an experienced cigar smoker, or just starting to find the pleasure of a good cigar. I'm always asked; what is a good cigar?  Well, that depends on you, and your particular taste for cigars.

I'm no expert on cigars by any means, the knowledge I have is from my own experience and many hours of reading about cigars.

What I mean is that there is no perfect cigar. There is only the cigar that is right for you, the one you take great pleasure in the draw, and enjoy the aroma that satisfies your taste buds. This my friend is a good cigar.

A Quote from Mark Twain

"Concerning Tobacco"  1893

"As concerns tobacco, there are many superstitions, And the chiefest is this - that there is a standard governing the matter, whereas there is nothing of the kind.

Each man's preference is the only standard for him, the only one which he can accept, the only one which can command him. A congress of all tobacco lovers in the world could not elect a standard which would be binding upon you or me, or would even much influence us."

The Source for the above Quote from Mark Twain

You have probably heard of some big-name cigar brands. These cigars have a deep family history, the families have been making cigars for generations. In 1959 Castro nationalized the tobacco industry, many of these families fled and began operations in the Caribbean, while others stayed and produced in Cuba.

This is why some of the brand name cigars are made in both places, the true mark of a Cuban cigar is on the band. you will see the word "Havana" written on the band.

While you're out shopping for that cigar that's just right for you it will be coming for one of these countries.

• Cuba,
• Dominican Republic,
• Jamaica,
• Sumatra,
• Honduras,
• Nicaragua,
• Mexico,
• United States

Did you have any idea that cigars were made in so many countries? I'm sure that I've missed a few of the popular countries where cigars are manufactured.

The filler and binders need to be wrapped with a leaf called of course the wrapper, the finest wrapper in the world is the Connecticut shade-wrapper leaf.

So what's your pleasure? Go forth and find that cigar just for you. It may be full-bodied, spicy, medium, mild, earthy tones, coffee, or a hint of sweetness. Whatever your pleasure it's up to you.

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A Little More Information About Cigars

About My Experience and Memories

I know smoking is not good for you, but let me tell you there is nothing like relaxing for an hour with a good cigar. A quote from my best friend Larry "Life is too short to smoke cheap cigars".
My father smoked cigars. I can remember the days of sitting on his back porch listening to the Pirates game on his radio and watching him enjoy his favorite cigar. Then came the day when we were both sitting there and enjoying our favorite cigars.
Those are memories that I'll always have, so if you have a cigar-smoking buddy, sit down with your favorite cigar and make some memories.

Some Interesting History

From Seed to Smoke

Cigars were smoked by the ancient Mayans for religious purposes. Cigars were once a stylish accessory to prosperous lives. In 1994 cigar sales in the United States increased for the first time since 1970 when eight billion cigars were sold. The nuances of cigars are infinite and the possibilities for new experiences are endless.
Quote from Zino Davidoff:
"The cigar is something that commands respect. It is made for all the senses, for all the pleasures,for the nose, the palate, the fingers, the eyes... A good cigar contains the promise of a totally pleasurable experience".
The life of a premium cigar starts with the tiniest of seeds, hovered over for 45 days in a nursery then planted like so many soldiers in the straightest of rows. Very few places in the world are blessed with the soil, temperature, and humidity that can nourish a seedling into a plant.
The Finest cigar wrapper in the world, Connecticut's shade-grown leaf, is only planted on one hundred very specific acres in that state.
The pleasure of one hour spent with a truly good cigar is the result of months, even years of specialized labor-intensive work.

Humidors

Humidors keep your cigars in great condition for that pleasurable smoke, you need to keep them from becoming dry and brittle.
Cigars should be stored at a temperature of 68-70 degrees and 70-72 percent humidity.
Now if you don't have a humidor you can place your cigars in a plastic container, and add a dampened paper towel or sponge (sealed in its own plastic bag), you also want to make sure that water doesn't come in direct contact with you cigars, as this can cause mold to set in.
But sooner or later you're going to want a humidor to keep those beauties safe.
I have heard of people storing cigars in a refrigerator, this is a bad idea as it draws the moisture out of the cigar.



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& 

The Hand Made Cigar

Oh the pleasure of an hour spent with a truly satisfying cigar, this hour is the product of months or even years of work. From planting the tiny seeds, caring for the plants, harvesting the tobacco, matching the flavors, and the skills involved in a hand-made cigar. There are many things that I enjoy, and one of them is taking some time to relax with a good cigar. Hopefully, winter will end soon, and spring and summer will be upon us. This is when I get to enjoy my cigars, outside of course, because I can't smoke them in the house. A few years back my daughter decided that we should all go on a Caribbean cruise. Who am I to argue, just take me to the ship. One of our stops was Puerto Rico, as we walked through this beautiful city we came upon this man you see in the picture, hand rolling and selling his cigars. I was amazed at watching his hands as he skillfully crafted these cigars.

Oh These Skillful Hands

These people are true craftsmen, such as the artist with brush and canvas, and the sculpture's hands and clay, all creating something of beauty for others to enjoy, so goes the skill of a hand-made cigar.

 Since I enjoy a good cigar, years ago I took an interest in how they were really made. I'm not an expert on the subject by any means, this is just knowledge that I've learned through my own research. 

The three components of a cigar are the filler, the binder, and the wrapper. In the picture, you see the hands of the craftsman known as the "buncher". This is the job that takes the filler and wraps it in the binder, there is much care taken here as the buncher has to make sure there is enough air space for a good draw and even burn of cigar. 

Then the cigars are placed in wooden molds and pressed into shape, once the cigars are shaped after several presses, they are turned over to the most skillful master the "roller". This is where the cigar is trimmed, and the final wrapper is cut, just to the perfect size for the cigar. 

Then, like the master that he is, the roller makes his final move to wrap the cigar and affix the cap to the head with natural tree gum. If you want to become a master roller you must start as an apprentice for two years, then if you're lucky enough to join the ranks, it will take another six years before you are proficient in all shapes and sizes.The Photo here is from my favorite cigar book featured below.

The Three Methods Of Making A cigar

There are three different methods of making cigars. The first method is a completely handmade cigar, this is the method you just read about. The second method is the machine bunched cigar, this is where a machine does the bundlers job. After the machine bundles, the skillful hands of the roller take over. By law, these cigars can be marketed as handmade. The third method is the complete machine-made cigar, these cigars are generally low-priced mass-market cigars. 

This is not to say that they are not good cigars. There are good cigars made by all three methods, the most expensive will be the completely hand-made cigar given all of the skill and labor involved in bringing it to the market. Pictured here is some of my collection; I have all three methods in my humidor. I guess you can say that I just enjoy a good cigar no matter what method was used to produce it.

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A Little Information About Cigars

Here we are at the end of another day, what could be better than relaxing with your favorite cigar. If you are looking for some great gifts for a fellow cigar lover, or just for yourself I have some great ideas. Now I'm no cigar expert by any means, but I do enjoy my cigars. This lens is about one of my fondest memories of my Dad, some of my favorite cigars and a little bit about them, some information about humidors, and why you should have one to keep your favorites fresh and the best temperature and humidity settings for your humidor. My humidor is pictured here and was given to me as a gift from a very good friend, a cigar-smoking buddy. Along the way, I have included some interesting facts about some famous cigar smokers.
The Photo above is my personal box of favorites.

My Dad's Favorite Cigar

My Dad smoked cigars. I have fond memories of him sitting on the back porch and smoking his cigar. It was like he had not a care in the world as long as he had his cigar and the radio was on as he listened to the Pirate game. Whatever the occasion, Birthday, Father's Day, or Christmas I always bought my Dad a box of Dutch Masters Presidents. He would look at me and say "You shouldn't have spent the money" and then he would smile.

These Five Are Some Of My Favorites Any One Of Them Would Make A Great Gift

ARTURO FUENTE: They come from the Dominican Republic. The Fuente family is the largest producer of handmade cigars in the Dominican Republic. The flavor is medium to full-bodied and the quality is superior

ASHTON: Also from the Dominican Republic. The originator of this brand was William Ashton Taylor an English pipe maker. The flavor is rich and medium, the Cabinet Selection is mild and the quality is Superior.

BACCARAT HAVANA SELECTION: These beauties come from Honduras and is owned by the Upmann family. These cigars are full-bodied, mild with a sweet flavor and the quality is excellent.
H. UPMANN: These cigars come from the Dominican Republic. The flavor is Mild to medium with sweet overtones and the quality here is Superior.

DON TOMAS: These come from Honduras. The flavor is full to medium-bodied with overtones of coffee and mocha and the quality is Superior. These are my top five cigars, there are so many more. I have to tell you I have smoked every one of these cigars and loved every one of them. My favorite is the H. Upmann, you won't be sorry trying any of these.FACT: In 1962 only hours before President Kennedy signed the Cuban embargo, he sent one of his aids out to buy a personal supply of one thousand H. Upmann Petit Coronas.

Now cigars need to be kept in a dark place with a constant climate. This is where the humidor comes into the picture. If your cigar lover doesn't have one, they will need one soon. Cigars should be kept at a temperature of 68-70 degrees and 70-72 percent humidity. This represents the tropical climate of the tobacco and keeps cigars from becoming dry and brittle. The picture in my intro is my personal cigars, and I have to tell you some of them have been in there for 2 years or more, and they are just fresh as the day I received them.FACT: Winston Churchill had a completely humidified room that housed three thousand cigars.FACT: President John F. Kennedy's personal humidor sold at an auction, and the highest bidder paid $574,500.00.

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