Cheesy Baked Tortellini and Garlic Cheese Bread

J. told me today when I was home for lunch that he was craving alfredo. I wasn't feeling that, instead I decided to make a tomato cream sauce. He never knows what is going to taste good anyway hehe! This was great Italian-style comfort food. Simple, but delicious! Great for a quiet night at home. The only thing that irritated me about this meal was that the two recipes called for two different oven temperatures. However, we only left the bread in for about 5 minutes, so I think it would be ok at 350.

Cheesy Baked Tortellini

Adapted From Lovestoeat Weblog

Olive Oil

1 cup marinara sauce

1 cup cream

1/3 cup mascarpone cheese

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1/4 cup chopped basil

1 tsp dried thyme

1 lb cheese tortellini

2 oz thinly sliced fresh mozzarella

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil an 8 by 8 by 2 inch baking dish (I used a 1 qt Corelle dish).

Whisk the sauce, cream, mascarpone cheese, and herbs in a large bowl.

Cook the tortellini in boiling salted water until just tender, about 2 minutes. Drain. Add to the sauce and toss to coat.

Add the tortellini mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top with mozzarella and Parmesan.

Bake until sauce bubbles and cheeses on top melt and just brown, about 30-40 minutes.

Garlic Cheese Bread

Adapted from Pioneer Woman

8 slices white bread (PW called for French Bread but I didn't have any)

1/4 stick butter

1/4 cup cheddar cheese, grated

1/4 cup Monterey jack cheese, grated

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup Mayo

1 green onion, minced

Dash of salt

1 clove garlic, minced

Mix cheeses with mayo and onion. Add salt to taste and set aside.

Melt 1/4 of the butter in skillet and add 1/4 of the garlic.

Place 2 slices bread in the skillet, swirling to soak up the butter and garlic. Allow bread to toast in the skillet, removing garlic if it starts to get too brown. (I didn't do this, and it did taste a little burnt.)

Repeat with remaining butter, garlic and bread.

Spread cheese mixture on bread and bake in 425 degree oven for 10 minutes (again, I think you could use a 350 degree oven for 5-10 minutes), until cheese is hot and bubbly.

Served this with Yellow Tail Merlot (Jordan drank some kind of weird beer *shakes head*)