CHICKEN TORTELLINI ALFREDO
INGERDIENTS
1 pound frozen (fresh is better, but whatever works) cheese tortellini
1 jar (7oz) jar roasted red peppers, drained and chopped into medium sized pieces
2 medium sized boneless chicken breasts (cooked and chopped into bite sized pieces) *I bake mine in the oven marinated in Wishbone Robusto Italian Dressing* but that is optional
1 10oz box chopped spinach, thawed and thoroughly drained (and then pulled apart)
1 small (8oz) whole milk ricotta cheese
1 egg beaten (but not to a pulp)
2 cups freshly grated mozzarella cheese
Salt / pepper to taste
For the Alfredo Sauce
Ok you can use a jar to a jar and a 1/2 of Ragu Alfredo if you want, but here is the scratch I prefer
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
2 cups heavy cream (don't skimp and use light... it won't come out right)
2 cloves garlic, crushed through presser (if you don't have a presser, mince as best you can)
3 cups freshly grated parm cheese (you can use Kraft green tube in a pinch **shudder** but it works)
1/4 cup fresh parsley minced, no stems
Tiny pinch ground nutmeg
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375F
I make the presumption all the prep work for everything is done here ok.
In large stock pot, place enough water to cover tortellini with some extra. (oh and a splash of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of salt in the water)
Bring to boil, cook tortellini according to package directions cutting 1 minute off time, drain and set aside.
While pasta is cooking, make your alfredo sauce
Melt butter in sauce pot on medium
Whisk in heavy cream about a 1/4 cup at a time
Add in everything else but the parm cheese
Add parm about a cup at a time until each cup has melted
Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer for a few minutes stirring very frequently until it thickens a little but is still liquid
Combine everything very well except the mozzarella in a big mixing bowl (or just use the stock pot you cooked the tortellini in)
Pour into 9 x 13 x 2 baking dish
Cover mixture with the 2 cups of mozzarella
Cover baking dish with aluminum foil and bake about 30 minutes
Remove foil, cook another 5 minutes or so until all cheese on top is melted.