The frozen cheese tortanllini only take 3 minutes to boil. They can be boiled separately and added last or they can be added at last 5 or so minutes of soup cooking and boil them for 3 or until they float. Or simmer till some float. Cook too long and they may fall apart. Worth the trouble. I don't use dried.

My chili is so easy I use v8 juice, can tomatoes, spices to taste, hamburger, brooks mild or hot chilli beans, and what ever you have on hand in the pepper department even celery. Cook for at least 1 hour, longer is better. I even put macaroni in if serving a crowd. Can be doubled so easy. Cheese, diced tomato, onion, and sour cream tops it off if desired. Yummy