Tortellini Sausage Salad

This is my new favorite salad recipe and the best way to eat raw spinach. It's yummy and has a Mediterranean flare.

Tortellini Sausage Salad
from Good Thymes and Good Food

5 T. vegetable oil, divided (I use olive oil and only about 2 1/2 - 3 tbsp.)
1 pkg. Italian sausage links (I used Kielbasa.)
1 pkg. 9 oz cheese tortilli (I used a 16 oz. bag and I could have used more)
1 6 1/2 oz. jar marinated artichokes - reserve marinade
1/2 c. black olives - sliced
1/2 c. feta, crumbled
1 clove garlic minced
1 tsp. dried basil (For both the basil and the dill, fresh would be great if you have it.)
1/4 tsp. dried dill
1/4 c. green onion
1/2 c. torn/chopped fresh spinach leaves (I used a whole 5 oz. bag and chopped it roughly.)
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 tbsp. white wine vinegar (I added this)

1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium high and add sausage. (I cut my Kielbasa up first.)
2. Brown 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally.
3. Reduce heat and cook 8 to 10 minutes more, turning once. (I cooked it for about 10 minutes total. I also used this pan to make a sauce, don't clean it yet!)
4. Cool and cut into 1/4 inch slices.
5. Cook tortellini and drain.
6. Toss the tortellini in 1 tbsp. oil.
7. Combine tortellini, sausage, olives, feta, artichokes, green onions, and tomatoes, spinach. (I also added the olives at this point)

**This is what I did differently from the recipe. I used the pan I cooked the Kielbasa in. It had a good amount of oil it in. I added the garlic and cooked that quickly. Then I added the other seasonings and about 1 tbsp. white wine vinegar to make the marinade. I whisked that together and gathered all the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. This is what I poured over the tortellini and sausage. The cooked garlic was better than raw garlic, in my opinion, and I plan it this way from now on.)

8. Which together 1/4 c. reserved marinade, 3 tbsp. oil, vinegar, garlic, basil and dill.
9. Pour over sausage mixture.
10. Refrigerate several hours. (I did not do this. I added the spinach and served immediately and it was fine)
11. Add spinach 20 minutes before serving.

Mediterranean-Style Tilapia

I found this recipe online at the Atlanta Journal Constitutional. It is my new FAVORITE! Seriously it's so flavorful it was impressive. Yummy! Best recipe I've found in a long time!

Mediterranean-Style Tilapia
Cuisine: Italian Mediterranean Seafood Low fat: Low cal:
To make the meal: Herb couscous with chopped olives, green beans
Hands on time: Total time: 30 minutes Serves: 4

Ingredients:
4 tilapia fillets
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (7 1/2-ounce) jar of quartered marinated artichoke hearts, drained and oil reserved
1 medium onion, quartered and thinly sliced
1 (12-ounce) jar of roasted red peppers, julienned

Instructions:
Season fish with salt, pepper and 1 garlic clove and set aside. In a skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 to 2 tablespoons oil from the artichoke hearts. Saute onion until softened. Add red peppers, drained artichoke hearts and remaining garlic clove and season with salt and pepper. Saute until everything is lightly browned. Remove topping from pan and set aside. Add fish to pan and cook for 5 minutes on one side. Turn fish and top with vegetable mixture. Turn off burner and cover for 2 to 3 minutes.

Notes: Pastrana adds a suggestion: "I know it's an extra ingredient, but sometimes after sauteing the veggies, I sprinkle rice wine vinegar on them for added zip." She also likes to cook the second side with the burner turned off: "The residual heat from the pan will continue to cook the fish without overcooking it or drying it out."
Nutrition:Per serving: 196 calories (percent of calories from fat, 21), 26 grams protein, 12 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 5 grams fat (trace saturated fat), 42 milligrams cholesterol, 246 milligrams sodium.