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.

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