Mandarin Orange Cake

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup flour
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• tsp. vanilla
• 1 can mandarin oranges

Put all the ingredients in a bowl. Beat with a mixer until the batter is smooth. Pour into a greased 9x9" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes until firm/set. 

• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3 tbs. milk
• 3 Tbsp. butter

Combine in a a pot and bring to a boil. while still boiling, pour over the cake as soon as it comes out of the oven. Be careful it doesn't over flow the pan. Pour slowly so it soaks in as you pour. 

Tortellini Soup

• 1 cup thin sliced carrots
• 1 minced onion
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 8 oz, chopped mushrooms
• 1 lb pork sausage
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 lb. tortellini (I use 4 cheese tortellini)
• Broth (chicken or veggie)-1-2 quarts
• cream
• Spinach (optional)

Sautee the onion, carrot, garlic and mushroom until they brown slightly. Set them aside. 

In the same pan, cook the sausage until it browns slightly- breaking it into small pieces as you go. 

Add in the flour and stir into the sausage for about 1-2 minutes. 

Slowly pour in the first quart of broth, stirring as you go. Put the veggies back in and add in more broth until everything is covered and there is plenty of liquid (the tortellini will soak up a lot of liquid). 

Simmer for at least 20 minutes. 

When you are nearly ready to eat, add in extra broth (if needed) and pour in the tortellini. Simmer the tortellini until cooked. 

Add in cream (and spinach) at the end. Stir until the soup is hot again (and spinach has wilted).