30 Minute Cheesy Tortellini Bake

I married an Italian man, so do you know what that means?  I make pasta.  Rico, I mean Richard, LOVES his pasta.  He’s taught me quite a few tips over the years regarding pasta, and as we’ve gotten older, the Italian tables have turned.  Now I teach him how to “make a the pasta” and he seems to really enjoy it.  So, this year for Valentine’s Day I’m taking the reigns again, and we are staying home.  There’s absolutely no reason in the Tuscan world for us to venture out in the -0 cold temperatures when I now have this simple “30 Minute Cheesy Tortellini Bake” recipe that I can whip up…in 30 minutes 😉  .  That includes cooking time folks.  Heck, it would take us that long to figure out what restaurant to go to.  Then, imagine the long lines, and wait time.  No way, man.

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Bertolli®

Why waste all of that time bickering driving when we can enjoy our warm toasty fire at home, and even utilize my “Valentine’s Day Table for Two” that I designed last week.  Did you happen to see that yet?  It’s so cute for a nice romantic dinner, and this “30 Minute Cheesy Tortellini Bake” will set the mood for a wonderful evening of relaxation.  Which is very much needed, by the way.

Uh oh, you’re beginning  to drool a little bit at the sight of my new favorite pasta recipe aren’t you?  Don’t worry about it.  I totally understand and don’t blame you one bit.  When I tried this simple Rosa sauce idea I was absolutely shocked at how delicious it is.  It almost tastes as if I cooked the sauce for 15 hours.

Well guys, I would never lie to you.  I didn’t have to cook the sauce at all 😯 .

When Bertolli® invited me to try mixing their two Bertolli® Organic Sauces to create one Rosa sauce, I couldn’t wait to try it with cheese tortellini I already had in the freezer.  What I didn’t realize was that combining Bertolli® Organic Traditional Tomato & Basil Sauce and  Bertolli® Organic Creamy Alfredo Sauce was going to develop a rich savory Rosa sauce that would knock my red fuzzy slippers off.  All in 30 minutes.

While researching, I learned that Bertolli sauce’s are not only organic and made with non-GMO ingredients (meaning non-genetically modified organisms which is better for us), the sauces originated in Tuscany, and are prepared simply and cooked lightly to lock in layers of delicious tomato flavor.  YUM.  I need all the tomato flavor I can get.

Even when I poured the sauces into the baking dish I was amazed at how beautifully they blended.  Then after a few seconds the rich Rosa sauce was born, and my tortellini where about to go swimming.

I tried the warm tortellini after I added them to the Rosa sauce and honestly I could have stopped there, sat down, and ate it all.  The Rosa sauce on the tortellini was that good.  It also would have been dinner in just five minutes since basic cheese tortellini only take about three minutes.  I thought of the kids when I was at this stage, and wished I knew this idea years ago when they were little.

I continued on my “30 Minute Cheesy Tortellini Bake” mission, and sprinkled on some mozzarella and parmesan cheese.  After 20 minutes in the oven at 400 degrees, it came out all bubbly and luscious.  Even the teen yelled, “Hey Mom, what are you cooking in there?”

Doesn’t the final baked dish look like I worked really hard?  Well, I can let Rico think so.  I completely recommend you try mixing a full jar of Bertolli® Organic Traditional Tomato & Basil Sauce and a full jar of Bertolli® Organic Creamy Alfredo Sauce and try it for yourself.  Then add it to your favorite pasta, throw some cheese on it, and bake for a simple midweek dish, or an extravagant romantic Valentine’s Day dinner for 2.  You will also have leftovers that you can use throughout the remainder of your week.  This is where I kiss my 2 fingers and say “arrivederci!”