Positive Press

Home alone for dinner tonight, I was relegated to using some of our Costco Tortelloni. A tasty treat, but one that requires some semblance of accompaniment. So I found a few things on hand and what resulted was very enjoyable.

I ate a few of them raw, as the cheese tastes delicious that way, but if you ate a whole serving that way, you’d probably get a starch-induced stomach ache.

I put the rest in a medium saucepan, covered with water, and brought to a simmer. I kept them on for a few minutes, but did not drain and bowl them until the other ingredients were prepared thoroughly; otherwise the dish would have been cold.

I had some mini-bell peppers, so I took a large yellow one, paired with two baby carrots, and nuked them for 2.75 minutes until soft. Then I diced them and placed them in a bowl.

I also had some roasted chicken lunch meat and some Tillamook Pepperjack, so I used two thin slices of meat and one thick slice of cheese, dicing them quickly and adding to the same bowl.

Scooping out a teaspoon of butter and a teaspoon of Classico pesto, I added them to the bowl, and drained the pasta and stirred it in. I topped it off with a teaspoon of olive oil and the dish was ready.

The result was very good: a soft pasta, lightly seasoned, with pesto, meat, melted cheese and vegetables. It really tasted light and delicious. The entire meal probably cost about $3.50 at a guess, and my gullet was pleased and not overstuffed.

I hope your dinner is at least as good!