National Pasta Day

As colors fade and slip away from the landscape, trees stand bare.

We rely on words to keep the memory alive. 

Holly Mathers-Shuemaker

Colors

The colors live

Between back and white
In a land that we
Know best by sight.
But knowing best
Isn't everything,
For colors dance
And colors sing,
And colors laugh
And colors cry-
Turn off the light
And colors die,
And they make you feel;
Every feeling there is
From the grumpiest grump
to the fizziest fizz.
And you and you and I
Know well
Each has a taste
And each has a smell
And each has a wonderful
Story to tell...

ending page from Hailstones and Halibut Bones by Mary O"Neill

Add some color to your day by celebrating National Pasta Day

with Chili Tortellini, a classic dish with a twist.  Pair the meal with your favorite cornbread. 

Cook's notes: Warm up on a chilly evening with a steaming bowl of Chili Tortellini.   It's packed with flavor, protein and some unusual ingredients that give it a twist. Cinnamon, coffee and unsweetened cocoa powder elevates this chili recipe to a whole new level. 
Cinnamon adds a different spice profile than chili powder or red or cayenne pepper would. It also cuts the acid in tomatoes when using 1/4 tsp for a batch of sauce or chili. A bit of cocoa powder and coffee adds a real depth to the flavor.  The unsweetened cocoa powder in chili helps to balance the heat with a little bit of sweetness. It also gives chili a deep and reddish brown color. Cheese tortellini adds a new texture not usually found in classic chili recipe. Use more chicken broth if needed to thin out the sauce on the second day.  
Recipe is an Ever Ready Special and serves 6. 
Ingredients:

• 1/2 pkg. of 1 lb. frozen cheese tortellini (no need to thaw before using) 
• 1 TB. olive oil
• 1 cup diced onions
• 2 cups diced celery 
• 1 TB. minced garlic
• 1 LB. hamburger 
• Salt and pepper
• 2 cans (each 14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes garlic, basil,onion
• 1 small can tomato sauce
• 16 oz. chicken broth- low sodium
• 2 cans (each 15 oz.) red kidney beans light and dark
• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin 
• 1-2 TB chili powder
• 1/4 tsp. each cinnamon and unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp. brown sugar
• 1 tsp. instant coffee granules or espresso granules mixed with 1/2 cup water 

Directions:

• In a large frying pan or soup pot heat oil and saute onion, celery and garlic 3-5 minutes. 
• Add in hamburger, salt and pepper and brown meat. Drain hamburger grease and wipe pan clean. Return browned hamburger to pot or fry pan. Crumble and add in rest of ingredients. Simmer uncovered on low 30 minutes. Add in frozen cheese tortellini and cook 8 minutes longer.