TURKEY TORTELLINI SOUP

Steps:

• 1. IN SLOW COOKER OR ON THE STOVE IN A LARGE POT ADD ALL THE VEGGIES,WATER AND SEASONINGS,STOCK AND SOUP. INCLUDING THE RICE. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HEAT THE RICE ITS ALREADY COOKED. JUST SPOON IT INTO THE PAN. THE RICE IS IN A SMALL MICROWAVABLE CONTAINER AND IS SINGLE SERVING I USE JUST ONE TO HELP THICKEN UP THE STOCK. THIS IS OPTIONAL.
• 2. BRING TO SLOW BOIL ON STOVE OR COOK ON HI IN SLOW COOKER FOR TEN MINUTES. ADD MEAT IF YOU SO CHOOSE AND LOWER TEMP TO LOW ON SLOW COOKER OR MED ON STOVE JUST LET IT SET FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS. STIRRING OCCASIONALLY. WE DID ABOUT 135 MILES WITH THE SOUP JUST SIMMERING IN THE POT. DROVE US NUTS.
• 3. ABOUT 20 MINUTES BEFORE READY TO SERVE ADD THE CHEESE TORTELLINI. RAISE TEMP TO BRING TO VERY SLOW BOIL. COOK FOR TWENTY MINUTES TILL TORTELLINI ARE HEAT ALL THE WAY THRU. THIS MAY TAKE A LITTLE LONGER IF FROZEN.STIRRING CONSTANTLY NOT TO BURN. SOUP WILL BE THICK. IF YOU WANT A THINNER STOCK ADD MORE STOCK OR WATER.
• 4. MY STUDENTS LOVE THIS WHEN I MAKE IT ON THE TRUCK. ITS A GREAT WINTER SOUP AND IS FILLING AND WARMING. WE FOUND IT TO BE EVEN BETTER THE NEXT DAY WHEN COMPLETELY COOLED AND REHEATED.