Saturday Thoughts...Use It Up...Dried Tortellini Alfredo

 

I wanted a dish that used that last of a half pint of heavy cream, so Alfredo-one of our favorite meals!  I always keep good block Parmesan that I shred in my food processor and package in small packages in the freezer.  I looked through my freezer Use It Up Box, and found that I had some mushrooms and ham slices that needed to be used. 
I could have made this dish today with any kind of pasta, but I had tortellini…one of our favorites. While I like fresh, refrigerated tortellini, the packages are just too big for 2 servings.  Dried tortellini, either Barilla or Priano (at Aldi’s) work well, taste good and you can use part of a package and use the rest later than you could the fresh pasta. 
I have made versions of this dish with shrimp or chicken as well as ham, or you can leave out the protein and make it a side dish and serve it with your meat, chicken or seafood.  Use a vegetable of your choice…make it your own.
                 Dried Tortellini in Alfredo Sauce for 2
  4         ounces  dried tortellini, cheese filled
  1         tablespoon  onion peeled and diced
  2          teaspoons  extra virgin olive oil
     1/3  cup  Peas -- fresh or frozen
     1/2  cup  heavy cream
  2         tablespoons  mushrooms -- sliced 
  2         tablespoons  parmesan cheese
  3-4      ounces  Ham -- or shrimp, chicken in bite size pieces
BRING a large pot of water to boil.
COOK tortellini according to the package directions.
SAUTE onion, mushrooms and meat or shrimp with olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until translucent, about 4 minutes
REMOVE a couple of tablespoons of hot pasta water and reserve for sauce.
DRAIN tortellini  over the peas in a colander and add  with the cream to the contents of the skillet or wok until thickened, adding reserved pasta water if needed.
STIR in cheese before serving

4 comments:

  1. I just love your recipes especially the ones for 2.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I so appreciate your recipes for 2. I am alone and this helps me with my cooking. And eating! Would you please share with me how to freeze some of the vegetables - especially mushrooms. Thank you again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You should look at this page: Freezing Basics Cooking for One or Two
      and specifically for mushrooms: Freezing Mushrooms
      I often drain and freeze the leftovers from a can of mushrooms flat in little snack bags inside a quart freezer bag. Don't bother to thaw to add to cooked dishes.

      Delete

Hello! Any blog post questions can not be answered any longer as the original bloggers have since passed away. Enjoy reading the blog!
Thanks.