I thought I would share another Food Holiday with you which falls on February 13th, National Tortellini Day #nationaltotelliniday. I can’t remember my family ever eating Tortellini. Have you had Tortellini? Did you like it? To shake things up in Charlie’s Homeschool Cooking Class I am going to have Charlie prepare Cheesy Baked Tortellini for a early Valentines Day Dinner. Would you like to join us?
Did you know Tortellini is the pasta of legends? As the story goes, the Goddess Venus had come to stay at a tavern in the Italian city of Bologna. The owner, trying to spy on her through the keyhole, was only able to see her navel. The owner was so inspired by the sight that he rushed to his kitchen and created the navel-shaped pasta we now call Tortellini. These Pasta pillows of deliciousness are adored by pasta lovers all over the world. On February 13th whether you enjoy Tortellini with Butter and Sage or Prosciutto and Parmesan, its time to celebrate.
NATIONAL TORTELLINI DAY ACTIVITIES
- Learn to make your own Tortellini today which isn’t difficult and can be a fun project for the family project that leads to a delicious dinner.
- What better way to bring a great group of friends together than with a great Pasta dinner? Invite your friends to a party and ask everyone to bring a dish were Tortellini is the star of the dish created with different stuffings and sauces. Make sure you have plenty of Wine and Garlic Bread to go with dinner.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL TORTELLINI DAY
- You can make Tortellini or Tortellini can be purchased fresh from a supermarket or specialty shop near you. Cook it quickly in a pot of boiling water and top it with your favorite sauce, or mix it into a Salad.
- The traditional filling for Tortellini is a mixture of meats seasoned with Parmigiano-Reggiano and Nutmeg and served in a Capon Broth, but there are also many other recipes stuffed with Cheeses, Meats, or Vegetables including Pumpkin or Brussels Sprouts.
Cheesy Baked Tortellini
Ingredients
Olive oil
2 cups marinara sauce
1/3 cup mascarpone cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 pound purchased cheese tortellini
2 ounces thinly sliced smoked mozzarella
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil an 8 by 8 by 2-inch baking dish.
- Whisk the sauce, mascarpone cheese, parsley and thyme in a large bowl to blend. Cook the tortellini in a large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, about 2 minutes. Drain. Add the tortellini to the sauce and toss to coat. Transfer the tortellini mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top the mixture with the smoked mozzarella and Parmesan. Cover and bake until the sauce bubbles and the cheeses on top melt, about 30 minutes.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
