BEEF & TORTELLINI MARINARA

This hearty pasta dish made with fresh green beans is a meal in itself. It’s great served with crusty Italian bread to dip in the sauce and a nice big green salad.

—JOYCE FREY MACKSVILLE, KS


PREP: 30 MIN. • COOK:1 /2 HOURS • MAKES: 11 SERVINGS

1 pound beef stew meat

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 jar (26 ounces) marinara or spaghetti sauce

2 cups dry red wine or beef broth

1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed

1 can (14 1 /2 ounces) Italian diced tomatoes, undrained

1 /2 pound small fresh mushrooms

2 envelopes thick and zesty spaghetti sauce mix

2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

1 tablespoon dried minced onion

2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary

1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper

1 /4 teaspoon salt

1 package (9 ounces) refrigerated cheese tortellini

1.  In a large skillet, brown beef in oil until no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Transfer mixture to a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker.

2.  Stir in the marinara sauce, wine, green beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, sauce mix, parsley, onion, rosemary, pepper and salt. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until meat is tender.

3.  Stir in tortellini. Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes or until tortellini are heated through.

PER SERVING 1 cup: 310 cal., 10g fat ( 3g sat. fat ) , 37mg chol., 1118mg sod., 29g carb. ( 11g sugars, 3g fiber ) , 14g pro.