Liv Life ~ Top 10 Recipes of 2013

While much of the rest of the country works to maintain balance and life through this extreme Polar Vortex, here in San Diego we're enjoying brilliant January sunsets.  Liv, my ever ready model, and I took to the beach a few days ago in a rare moment with no pressing schedule and her spirit flew into the New Year as she danced along the water's edge.

Maintaining balance in life has been a challenge in 2013.  Our world has become insanely busy, and Liv faces a few big girl decisions in the upcoming months which will hopefully regain some of that balance to our life.  Growing up is hard to do and sometimes the correct path isn't obvious or what we had originally planned.

Food though, is the one part of my life I can balance and control, and 2013 brought a number of new favorite dishes to our table.  Ranging from heart-healthy breakfasts to super salads and decadent desserts, we pretty much covered the gamut last year and have enjoyed our food while staying healthy along the way.  Join me as we count down our reader favorites from 2013.

Liv Life ~ Statistical Top 10
(Click the titles to see the recipes!)

-----------------------------------------

10

Grilled Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos with Mango Pineapple Salsa

 A San Diego staple, the fish taco is a meal I can always count on our family enjoying.  This favorite features grilled mahi mahi and a tropical touch with a zesty mango and pineapple salsa.

9

DIY Homemade Kahlua ~ 3 Versions

Shooting to 9th place in just over a month, DIY Kahlua became a wonderfully received gift to all we sent it to this year.  Far easier to make than I had ever imagined, we bring 3 versions to suit your taste and time frame.

8

DIY Vanilla Extract

Not to be outdone by DIY Kahlua, this DIY Vanilla Extract was just as popular in July as it was near the holidays, showing us that Vanilla Extract is a year round essential!  This post features packaging ideas for shipping or gift giving as well.

7
Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Bites

Holding a special place in my heart, this recipe brings a healthy bite to the table and helps me remember a very special friend.

6
Whole Grain Pumpkin Banana Nut Bread

When you start getting text messages from your daughter's friends to "Please make that bread again this weekend!" you know you have a hit!

5
DIY Baking Powder

Continuing the DIY vein... DIY Baking Powder also proved popular all year round.  Saving me a trip to the store on more than one occasion, this recipe is good to have tucked away in case of emergency.

4
Limoncello Lemon Cake

Popular on Pinterest, this sunny cake brings a brightness to your day.  Sweet, yet tart with lemon, and then topped with a lovely limoncello glaze, I can't stop at one piece.

3
Becky's Famous Football Party Stromboli

Making its top 10 appearance for the 3rd year running, Becky's Strombolli remains one of our all time most popular posts.  Bring this to your Superbowl party and you'll definitely win the most popular vote!

2
Asian Fried Quinoa

 With a comment of "Holy crapballs!  This is delicious on a level that made my eyes roll back in my head!", no further words are needed...

1
Strawberry Margarita Jell-O Shots

And maintaining their number one spot for the third year running, these cute Strawberry Margarita Jell-O shots prove they have staying power.  Super cute on a serving tray, these babies don't last long at a party.

--------------------------------------

And there you have it - Liv Life's Top 10 rated posts for 2013.   A sincere thank you to everyone for your continued support, the lovely comments you leave for me and the ideas for new posts.  Liv and I truly enjoy our Liv Life community and look forward to sharing 2014 with you.

Wishing everyone balance, love and healthy living in 2014.  May this be a fabulous year for you.  And remember...

Liv Life

Liv Life 2012 Statistical Top 10, and a few of my favorites...

Living Life in San Diego...

Balance... life is all about balance.  Many times that balance becomes skewed as one thing or another is thrown into the mix, but somehow our sense of balance always seems to return.  Now that Christmas is over, the shopping done, the cooking and baking done, the cards, wrapping, decorating and planning done, and the New Year has arrived, I find myself happily awake just as the sun is peeking its warm self over the horizon - and I'm welcoming the return of balance.  Two warm balls of white Maltese fluff are warming my lap as the rest of the family sleeps in, and I've spent a fabulous hour reminiscing about my year of Living Life.

Doing our best to Liv Life to its fullest, we've done a pretty darn good job and we've eaten well along the way.  Raising two teenagers, I've worked hard to maintain a nice balance of "fun food" along with healthy variations.  Frequently I've fooled them (especially Liv...) into thinking a recipe is "a total treat", when in fact that recipe is filled with whole grains, lower sugar and fruits or vegetables.  Keeping the balance, decadent treats have indeed been thrown into our mix, but not without tastes of new (to us) vegetables and main dishes.

As I do every year, I've enjoyed perusing our Top 10 statistical posts along with my personal favorites that didn't make the statistical cut.  Similar to last year, our stats are a touch out of balance, but do indeed show nearly identical trends.

Sweets are definitely favorite posts as we don't find a real meal until number 21.  Rice Krispies, Peanut Butter and Tequila seem to ring well with our audience, as well as my girlfriend Becky's Stromboli which is making it's Statistical Top 10 appearance for 2 years in a row.

Liv Life 2012 Statistical Top 10 

(plus one because it's one of my favorites)

11.  Nutella Chocolate Chip Cookies
10.  Margarita Lime Cheesecake
9.    Layered Triple Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
8.    Whole Grain Pumpkin Banana Bread
7.    Peanut Butter Krispie Treats with Mini PB Cups
6.    Margarita Lime Jell-O Shots
5.    Lemon Drop Jell-O Shots
4.    Limoncello Lemon Cake
3.    Becky's Famous Football Stromboli
2.    Candy Cane Marshmallow Pops
1.    Strawberry Margarita Shots

With accounting and statistics in my blood, I'm fascinated with the paths of these posts and what makes them popular.  The invention of Pinterest has most definitely driven much of our stats with those Strawberry Margarita Shots earning rave reviews while garnering over 625,000 all time visits.  I've been thrilled with numerous emails telling me how much the shots have been enjoyed, followed shortly by emails about the Candy Cane Marshmallow Pops which seem to have been put together by many a room mom around the country this holiday season.

While treats may have filled our statistical Top 20, Number 21 on the Statistical List brings a family favorite, Asian Sesame Salmon.  Asian flavors of Sesame, ginger and soy pair beautifully with tender salmon fillets for a grilled (or broiled) meal sure to please any family.

Only nine numbers behind the salmon, one my favorite posts of the season, Pasta All'Amatriciana brings me back to my days in Italy without leaving my kitchen.  Proving that just a few fresh ingredients are all that is needed to put a fabulous dinner on the table, this pasta is reminiscent of the back streets of Rome. If only René came with the dish... sigh....

René in Rome and Past All'Amatriacana in San Diego... bringing the tastes of Rome home!

Rounding out our personal favorite meals in the Top 50, we have a regular at the Liv Life household, my warrior breakfast (or dinner) with Protein filled eggs and quinoa, Mr. Liv Life's favorite soup - Chicken Tortilla, and the kids all time favorite - Smoked Paprika Chicken.  

Smoked Paprika Chicken, Chicken Tortilla Soup, Warrior Breakfast with Eggs and Quinoa

2012 also brought a few of my favorite travel posts.  With dreams of being a travel blogger when I someday have more time to travel, my rare current travel moments become even more precious.  Lucky to have made our way to Europe this past summer, I enjoy perusing my posts which bring back a flood of happy memories.  Aromas of different foods, visions of far away vistas, and the flavors of my own hometown open my horizons and allow me to share parts the world.

Baklava Dreaming of Greece - Liv discovered this sweet, honey soaked pastry in Corfu, Greece.  Making our own version after arriving home seemed to extend our vacation if even for just a few moments.

Limoncello Dreams, Sorrento - Lemon!!  Sorrento brings the sweet scent of lemon to the streets as vendors display everything and anything lemon.  Inspired by shops filled with tangy/sweet Limoncello, Mr. Liv Life was inspired to make his own.  Whether used for a simple afternoon libation or as an ingredient in cakes, breads, salads or gelato, Limocello will always leave us dreaming of Sorrento...

Etna Pasticeria, Taormina - The simple thought of this quaint and historic Sicilian town perched on the side of Mt. Tauro pops thoughts of the world's best cannoli to mind!

A day in Lipari - Arriving through the Aeolian Islands, views of erupting volcanoes, stunning sunrises and incredible rock formations had us excited to arrive to Lipari.  With its winding streets and the incredibly beautiful St. Bartholomew's Chathedral, Lipari became a favorite stop on our Med cruise. 

Visions of Venice - Venice... sigh.  What can I say that hasn't already been said?  Picture postcard views around each and every corner, this city on the water is a photographer's paradise.  Filled with history and structure, the city provides endless amounts of stimulation for any visitor.

Atlantis, Bahamas - And for pure fun in the sun, the Atlantis Resort provides unlimited fun for the entire family combined with fabulous dining to top off your day.

Carlsbad, CA.  The Flower Fields - Stunning rows of brilliant colors just over the hill from my home let me know that spring has arrived in full force!  And leave me living on vacation.

As thankful as I am for the incredibly lucky life I've experience in 2012, my world has been touched by sorrow on more occasions than I care to recount.  With friends battling illness, family battling age and dementia, and a world still suffering from the shootings in Connecticut (our post on Remembrance, Grief and Balance...), my heart shares all the love I have with hopes of easing some of the sadness that has touched this world.

In particular, our prayers stay with a family friend who recently lost their beloved wife and mother... the sweet and most special Courtney.  Crossing our path in Europe, Courtney and her husband touched our life in a way that will never be forgotten.  With shared meals and new experiences, our days together will forever be held tight.  I'm ever so thankful for the time we had together, just as I'm filled with sorrow with the loss of this beautiful lady.

As we step foot into this new year, I've great hopes for a peaceful and balanced time ahead.  May the love of family surround you, the aromas of freshly baked foods fill your home, and a healthy life be yours to live.  Remember to take in the beauty of the day, and to Liv Life...

Back to the Future.... Our 2011 Top 10

As the year comes to a close, I always enjoy looking back and remembering the special events that I will carry forward into the New Year.  My personal life is filled with wonderful memories... from my autumn travels in Italy to Liv's Championship performance last summer in Las Vegas at Nationals.  In between, travels and time with close friends, dinners with my parents, lunches with girlfriends and weekends with the Dance Moms all brought treasured moments that I will bring with me into the future.

Life, as always, has kept me in balance, and here at Liv Life I make a decent effort to maintain a balance of healthy meals and sweet treats.  A review of our statistical Top 10, however, shows absolutely NO balance.  Sweets and treats all the way, with assorted Krispie Treats taking three of the Top 10 slots.  It would seem that the world, very much like Liv, has a sweet tooth.

Without further ado, I give you our statistical Top 10 of 2011... and then for a bit of balance, I've thrown in some of my personal favorites to carry with us as we enter the New Year.

10

Chocolate Banana Crepes

Arriving in the 10th position and making our list for two years in a row, is one of Liv's personal all time favorites:  Chocolate Banana Crepes.  Balance indeed, these crepes bring one, if not even more, servings of fruit in the banana all wrapped up in a thin, low fat, egg based crepe.  I'm proud of Liv and her efforts to perfect her crepe making skills as she frequently comes home from school and whips up a batch of crepes... just cause she can.

9

Becky's Famous Football Stromboli

Number 9 brings us a neighborhood favorite, and a guest post from my good friend Dan bringing us some serious "Man Food".  Unfortunately for him, this man food has also become one of the most requested kid foods and the ladies pretty much love it too.  Cheesy, salty and not to heavy, Becky's Stromboli is the ideal Super Bowl fare and will make you the hero of any gathering you bring it to.

8

Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes with Warm Maple Glaze

Decadence on a plate, but now that I think about it, balance as well with a fairly healthy pancake made with whole wheat flour and topped with bananas in addition to the sweet Maple Glaze that makes this breakfast an event to remember.

7

Nutella Rice Krispie Treats

2011 was the year that we discovered Nutella... that creamy, chocolaty, hazelnut spread that brings deliciousness to nearly everything it touches.  With our love of Peanut Butter Krispie Treats, trying a Nutella version was just a matter of time.

6

Limoncello Lemon Cake

Throwing rays of brilliant sunshine into our lives, this tender, bright cake features our own homemade Limoncello.  Bright with citrus flavors, Limoncello Lemon Cake won't last long on your table.

5

Lemon Drop Jell-O Shots

Continuing our love of Citrus, these Lemon Drop Jell-O shots were a hit at a friends after dinner party.  One of those "Wow!  Look at that!" plates on the appetizer table, you decide just how potent these little guys should be.

4

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

Ahhhh... the flavors of fall!  Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls have graced our tables in all seasons for years.  Balanced with the Vitamin A rich pumpkin, these lower in fat treats are one I can feel good about serving, and also taking that second piece.

3

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats with Trader Joe's Mini PB Cups

The marriage of peanut butter and chocolate is highlighted in these somewhat addicting treats.  A dairy free version for my lactose intolerant son has become his favorite after school treat.

2

Triple Layered Peanut Butter Krispie Treats with Peanut Butter Fudge and Peanut Butter Ganache.

These guys are truly Krispie Treats taken to a new level!  Layers of Peanut Butter Fudge trapped in between peanut butter enhanced Krispies, all topped with a luscious peanut butter ganache makes these treats truly magnificent and most deserving of a top spot on our list.  These treats eased the pain of Back to School.

A funny note on this post, it wasn't until over 2 months after posting that I noticed the spelling error in the title... I had "layred" in place of "layered".  Ugh!!!

1

Strawberry Margarita Jell-O Shots

My surprise of the year, these adorable shots have had more hits than all the rest of my blog posts put together.  Definitely eye catching, the shots didn't bring the punch I was looking for, but I'm thinking that could easily be remedied with the addition of more tequila.

Some of our personal favorites made it to the Statistical Top 10, but to balance out the list I've gathered a few additional Liv Life Top Picks.

1

Whole Roasted Garlic Lemon Chicken

Coming in statistically at number 28 we get to the first healthier post on the list.  Whole Roasted Garlic Lemon Chicken is not only simple to put together, but a total family pleaser.  With your house smelling like a restaurant, this chicken will draw your family from all corners of the house asking how soon will dinner be on the table.

2

Coconut Mango Chicken Cups

One of my all time favorite appetizers.  Adorable in their single serving won ton cups, the flavors of the tropics really shine.  Mango, coconut and lime bring the chicken filling to a mouth watering level and will be one of the first appetizer plates empty on your table.

3

Poached Salmon with Asparagus and Citrus Vinaigrette

Light, healthy and filling... I never knew poached salmon could be so good!

4

Skewered Tomato, Cucumber and Feta Appetizer

Another eye catcher ideal for a gathering is this Greek-like Appetizer.  Featured for the first time on our New Years Table last year, I've been known to toss a few of these skewers together for an evening snack with a glass of wine.

5

Chocolate Espresso-Orange Cheesecake with Grand Marnier Ganache

Keeping the balance in my personal choices, something sweet is in order.  As such, this luscious dessert will round out the Liv Life favorites of the year.  Readers of Liv Life may have noticed my fondness for the heavenly Grand Marnier, and this cheesecake definitely fit the bill.  Spiked with Kahlua AND Grand Marnier, the flavors mixed with the chocolate and brought 2011 to a resounding finale.

And there you have it...

Balance, Love and Life, all in one place.  May 2012 be prosperous to you and yours, and may your plate always be filled.

Happy New Year!!

Liv Life's Top 10 in 2010

Happy New Year!!

New Year's Eve brings so many memories.  From late nights dancing the night away in the City by the Bay, to evenings ending at 9:30 after a Toy Story double feature.  The last few years though, I have found to be the most memorable as well as enjoyable with smallish pot-luck gatherings at ours or a neighbor's house.  Kids of all ages dressed in pretty holiday clothes and decorated with New Years tiaras, beads and hats running around while the adults enjoy time chatting with a bit of bubbly in hand as we all welcome the New Year.  Last night was another one of those perfect evenings!

Waking early yesterday morning the pups and I enjoyed about an hour to ourselves perusing the foodie blogosphere before the rest of the family arose.  Much to my pleasure, many of the blogs I follow listed their Top 10 posts of the year.  Piquing my curiosity, I checked my own stats and found that desserts are indeed very popular!  Some of my personal favorites made that Top 10 and I genuinely enjoyed taking a trip down Memory Lane.

When I began writing, back in June of this year, desserts were not high on my blog list.  However, with requests from Liv and others I found myself feeding my baking obsession.  For years I have turned to baking to relieve a stressful day.  It's not so much the baked good, but the baking process that I truly love.  Kneading and shaping bread tops my list with mixing, measuring and simply stirring following at a close second.  Add a kid or two into the mix and we have a winning afternoon!  Unfortunately for my waistline, the baking process does produce the desired and eagerly anticipated baked good that I love and crave so much, but each and every calorie is well received and extraordinarily enjoyed.

While most of our Top 10 revolves around baking and desserts, our numbers 9 and 10 bring some of our favorite soups.  Perfect for summer or winter, soup is "good food".  Given the choice, my husband would have soup daily.  It's taken me a bit of time to come around but Deb's (Kahaki Kitchen) Souper Sundays has helped me get my soup on!

Here's our Top 10 for 2010!  

#10

Ellie Krieger's Roasted Tomato and Black Bean Soup

Ellie Krieger starts us off at Number 10 with her Roasted Tomato and Black Bean Soup: 

The versatility of this savory recipe is a benefit for me as I don't always have just the right amount of tomatoes on hand, but using a few more or less doesn't materially impact the soup other than making it more or less tomatoey.  The black beans give texture that I love and adding roasted sweet onions lends a savory touch when combined with the roasted garlic.  Topping the soup with a sprinkle of cilantro, a scoop of creamy sour cream and a spoonful of luscious diced avocado provides a meal in a bowl that is just as good, if not better, the next day.

 #9

 Quick Corn & Chicken Chowder

Dad's 81st birthday in November was the inspiration behind #9:

Last night we celebrated Dad's 81 years with a heart-healthy Corn and Chicken Chowder that was quick to put together and perfect for a busy school night.  With the farmers market corn dwindling, a bag of Trader Joe's frozen white corn made for easy prep of this body warming soup.  I had thought ahead and made extra chicken from our dinner the prior evening which only need a quick chopping to round out the meal.  Flavored with onion, chilies and celery and then then rounded out with a dose of dried thyme and a fresh grind of pepper this soup was the perfect birthday meal.

#8

Pumpkin Scones

#8 brought us into our baking realm:

I seem to be a bit behind the power curve, but I'm finally beginning to channel my inner pumpkin!  Pumpkin Pancakes have been the breakfast of choice more than once in the last few weeks and after reading on a now forgotten blog that there might be a pumpkin shortage I picked up a number of cans on a recent Trader Joe's run.  Cold, drizzly San Diego is definitely urging me in the comfort food direction and today Pumpkin Scones seemed to fit the bill.

#7 

Grand Marnier Brownie Bites

Coming in at #7 is my personal favorite post of the year!

Introducing my Grand Marnier obsession, this post begins with an early morning stroll on the beach followed by an afternoon at the doggie spa and comes to a beautiful conclusion with these Grand Marnier enhanced, ganache topped bites of luscious brownie!

While the Grand Marnier Brownie Bites may not be the perfect doggie treat (chocolate is toxic to dogs!), this sumptuous chocolaty treat sounded absolutely divine to me.  Rich chocolate brownies embellished with a touch of grated orange peel and layered with a luscious Grand Marnier enhanced ganache for a bite of pure decadence.

#6

Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake Bars

Soaring near the top of the stat viewer is our recent Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake Bar post. 

The secret is the crust... crushed Trader Joe's Candy Cane Joe Joe's (oreo-like peppermint flavored cookies) provide the perfect pepperminty base to the rich chocolate cheesecake filling and luscious ganache-like topping.  A sprinkle of crushed candy canes brings a holiday flair and another welcome dose of peppermint.

#5

White Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Cups

These little white chocolate cups just may be my personal favorite recipe of the year:

I'm not usually one to gush.  My emotions usually stay fairly well in check with the occasional real high or the incidental low, but for the most part I'm pretty darn straight and even.  However... today I'm going to gush!!!  WOW!  Wow!! Wow!!!  White Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Cups are amazing!  Awesome!  Spectacular!  Dazzling!  Fabulous!  Magnificent!!!  And I could go on!

#4

Chocolate Banana Crepes

Chocolate Banana Crepes (now altered to use our new  Nutella obsession) gets Liv's vote for all time favorite:

Liv's first bite brought an odd look to her face giving me a momentarily thought of concern, however, within seconds her bright smile spread even broader than usual followed by, "Wow!  I have never, and I mean never, had anything this good!"  Admittedly bananas and chocolate are two of her favorite ingredients,  add in a dusting of powdered sugar and you have Liv Heaven!

#3

Whole Grain Pancakes with Buttermilk, Oatmeal & Banana

Bringing a bit of whole grains into our life, Liv's favorite Pancakes bring us to #3:

Definitely needing to get some decent food into her we immediately got to making one of her favorite meals, pancakes!  My mom-instincts kicked in and I felt a need to load the pancakes with healthy nutrients as we began filling the mixing bowls.  Out of the pantry came a/p flour, whole wheat flour, wheat germ, flax meal, rolled oats and cinnamon all combined with a touch of brown sugar.  Then we opened the fridge and pulled out fresh milk, eggs and buttermilk.  Luckily we even had an over-ripe banana on the counter and we were set!

 

#2

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

#2 brings us to one of our all time favorite recipes, Cooking Light's Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls: 

Cooking Light provided a version of this keeper years ago that I adapted to work for me, and I feel good serving it to my family in place of other recipes that are higher in fat and calories.  On occasion I add a portion of spelt or whole wheat flour in place of the all purpose to bump up the health meter, and I'm thrilled to have the fiber and beta-carotene rich pumpkin included in the mix.  Filled with the usual butter, cinnamon and brown sugar and topped with a sweet glaze these tender rolls are a hit every time.  We keep a few cans of pumpkin in the pantry just for this oft requested recipe.  The lightly orange hued rolls are a sweet treat for any table!

And announcing our #1 viewed recipe of the year...

#1

Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies

My mom is the source to this favored recipe!

Somehow, chocolate and peanut butter make everything better!  My Mom made these cookies for us a few years ago and I have a note, handwritten by my son, that these are the "best cookies in the world"!  The tender cookies, just ever so slightly crisp on the outside give way to a beautifully soft, peanut butter center.  Covered with a sprinkle of sugar the cookies melt in your mouth and any frustrations you may have simply slip away.  Easy to make, quick to bake and tasty to eat.  The perfect finish to a fun evening.  For my next movie though, I think I'm queuing up on Netflix! 

--------------------------------------------------------------------

And there we have it!  Liv Life's Top 10 in 2010.  Liv and I have enjoyed putting together each and every one of these posts and we can not even begin to adequately convey our thanks for the support and kind words that have come our way during our short blogging stint.  Thank you... and Happy New Year!

On to 2011!

Garlicky Tortellini Turkey Soup

As I review my Thanksgiving menu I've realized that our special meal is in good shape.  The Grand Marnier Cranberries are prepped and chilling, my son's favorite Golden Bread Braid is par-baked and ready to be finished just before dinner is served, the Orange Streusel Sweet Potatoes are baked, mashed and resting in their serving dish just waiting for the Streusel to be added, the Cappuccino Fudge Cheesecake is cooked and looking lovely, and the turkey is dressed and roasting away.  My husband is enjoying a quick light lunch with our guests and we have a couple of hours before the festivities begin.

With most of the work done I have a few minutes to just sit and be thankful.  And thankful I am!  I'm thankful for my family all living so close, thankful that our parents are relatively healthy and able to join us every Thanksgiving.  I'm thankful for our lovely friends, who we have come to consider family who are always a part of our Thanksgiving as well.  They were the first people we met when we moved into our home some 13 years ago and have been special to us ever since.  I'm thankful my husband flew his plane home safely and that he is not spending his Thanksgiving in a hotel like he did last year.  I'm thankful for my kids who still give me hugs (but not in public!).  

And I'm thankful for my new blog friends who have quickly become a big part of my life.  Thank you all for your wonderful support as I started writing this blog.  When I began I simply had intentions of recording recipes in an organized manner, but I quickly came to understand that Liv Life is so much more than that.  It's a connection to people all over the world, people I have come to look forward to touching base with several times a week, people who I don't actually know what they look like, yet I think and talk about during my day.  I wish you all a wonderful, safe Thanksgiving Day!  And for those in other countries, I wish you a wonderful day as well in whatever you may be doing.  

With many of us here in America cooking Turkey, leftovers are another thing to be thankful for!  Garlicky Tortellini Soup is a perfect vehicle for some of your spare turkey, and a simple, satisfying meal to toss together when you may not really feel like cooking.  Filled with ingredients that you most likely have in your pantry or freezer, this fragrant soup goes together in record time, and if you make enough, will provide its own leftovers for another day.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!