TORTELLINI ALFREDO BLUSH CASSEROLE

In an Italian household, comfort food, is usually synonymous with "Pasta". And... there is a reason for that... The reason, is a meal like this!!!
Every one of my Italian friends and family, have a version of this dish in their recipe book, and I, am no exception. The aroma is delightful, and makes you feel like you are getting a big hug, with each, delicious mouthful.
In our house, this is a leftover meal. *LOL*. I always have pasta sauces, either half containers from other meals, or frozen. There is always mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. *In my case, we use Locatelli, Pecorino Romano Cheese on our table, exclusively. (That is just personal preference though.) And there is always pasta.
These are all Italian staples, and ingredients are usually on hand.
It is quick, easy and outrageously delicious. Even the pickiest of palettes will not be denied.
The key to this meal, is the balance of the ingredients, so that nothing overpowers the delicious stuffed pieces of pasta. Even with the use of all the cheese's involved, the meal is still light. *Remember to taste as you go*, and don't be afraid to "stray" if you get inspired. That's how you learn what ingredients blend well with each other.
As with every Pasta meal, you can't go wrong with a crusty Italian Bread, and a light salad.

Prep. Time: 15 min.   Cook Time: 15 - 20 min.   Servings: 3

Ingredients:
1 bag of frozen cheese filled Tortellini (16oz.)
1 jar of Alfredo sauce - about 12 oz.
1/3 jar of Marinara/Tomato sauce - about 4 oz.
1 Tbsp. dried Basil
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1/2 Cup shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 Cup grated Parmesan Cheese
salt and pepper to taste
All the ingredients are subject to greater or lesser amounts, (Except the tortellini) depending on your personal taste preferences. When I make this dish, many times I make my own Alfredo Sauce, and usually, there is frozen homemade pasta sauce in the freezer. (Thanks to my husband, who doesn't know how to cook, unless it's in massive quantities.) Use your eye when you mix the sauces. Look for the color of the sauce you see. Add more or less. ***Taste the sauce before you pour it over the tortellini***, and adjust it, if you want to taste more of something.

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Bring 5qts. Salted Water to a rolling boil, and cook the Tortellini, according to package directions. .
While pasta is cooking, in a microwaveable bowl, mix the Alfredo sauce and Marinara sauce together. (The mixture should be light pink in color)
Add Basil and Garlic Powder.
Mix well
Taste for salt and pepper
Heat the sauce mixture to a near boil in microwave,
Shred mozzarella cheese
In an 8x8 square baking dish, put Tortellini, and Pasta Sauce, and mix well.
Add shredded Mozzarella Cheese on top
Add Parmesan. cheese on top of that
Place in oven, and Bake for 15 - 20 minutes, until cheese is nice and bubbly.
Remove from oven, and Serve Immediately!!!

  I served this with Italian Bread and a light Cucumber Salad

Delicious!!!

NOW ENJOY!!! 

CUCUMBER SALAD

Salads have become a staple with most meals I cook at home. I try to balance carbs with good proteins, and at least a side vegetable or salad.
Salads can be everything meals. But... when I cook, I like light, flavorful salads, especially in the Fall, that are not going to make me feel more full, after eating the main dish.
In our Italian house, we eat the salad at the end of the meal. So... it must cleanse the palette and leave you refreshed and satisfied. A simple cucumber salad meets all those requirements. And... cucumbers are a natural fat burner, which is always nice, and a definite plus!!! This salad will be an automatic hit, as long as you "Taste as you go".

 

Prep time: 10 min.   Cook time: None    Servings: 3

Ingredients:

1 Cucumber, peeled, and sliced very thin
1/2 medium Onion, sliced very thin, and then cut in half
Salt and Pepper to taste
3/4-1 Cup Water (more or less to taste preference.)
5-6 tsp. White Vinegar (more or less to taste preference.)
Garnish with a pinch of Fresh Dill (optional)

Directions:

• In Serving Bowl, add Cucumbers and Onions
• Salt well, *this is important, under salting cucumbers can mean the difference between a great salad and a bland salad*.  
• Add Pepper to taste
• Add Water (more or less to taste preference.)
• Add Vinegar (this is important, Taste here... you want to add enough vinegar to know that it is a bit more, than just water. But, too much vinegar will make everyone pucker. *LOL* There must be the proper balance.)
• Taste again, add Salt if needed
• Mix well, Garnish, and Serve!!!

 

NOW ENJOY!

© 2013 Jayne's Crazy Kitchen

INTRODUCTION

 Welcome to Jayne's Crazy Kitchen!!!

 

Well, the kids are grown and gone, almost... and I realized the other night while at the stove, that I am experiencing "Empty Nest Syndrome". I've heard of it, never really thought much about it, and yet here I was. Without several schedules to work around, teenage wardrobe melt downs, a cluttered house, providing taxi service, and most notably, the decrease in the amount of foot traffic I've been used to... And!!! There were even delicious left overs in the fridge. Unthinkable!!!

I was alone, and with nothing to do. Unimaginable!!! With that realization, came panic. What was my role now? More importantly, What do I do with myself? These things were never questions for me before. So... with a slice of delicious apple cinnamon bread, and a strong, hot cup of coffee, I sat down to contemplate life's cruel joke, and started to think about my dilemma. Suddenly, the fog lifted. The sun came out, bright and strong, and I smiled. I was going to start a Food Blog!!! I had a purpose now. Awesome!!!

I love to cook!!! What better outlet than a Food Blog? I get to cook all my favorite foods, without having to worry about who likes what anymore. I would be able to not only get creative in the kitchen but, to take pretty pictures too!!! I could share cool kitchen tips and food hints I've collected along the way. Food crafts would be fun too!!! Sounded like a plan. Only 1 drawback that I could foresee. I didn't know how to blog.

So, I read everything I could find. Visited a few hundred popular blog sites, and decided. How hard could it be???

That is how you found, Jayne's Crazy Kitchen. A fly by the seat of your pants, Food Blog... that is learning as it goes. It is a creative outlet for me, as well as a major learning experience. I am expanding horizons, and stepping out of my comfort zone. Hopefully you will take away with you, some great recipes, a few laughs, and a lot more smiling faces at your dinner table.

Now understand, I am not a chef, a writer, a photographer, or a blogger. But, I can be. I can be, anything I want to be. I have found freedom!!! I am... free to be, just me. Oh that rhymes!!! See? A writer already.

In real life, I am a retired, disabled Registered Nurse. A little gray haired mom, who always liked to cook, and wished she had more time to do it. Now I do. I'm sure this blog will undergo massive changes as I continue to learn more about html, links, page alignments and "stuff". But while doing that I will continue to post new recipes. My goal, which will be a get too step, is to eventually post 30 recipes a month. Along with other goodies as well. This is exciting!!!

 

Happy Cooking ~ Jayne's Crazy Kitchen