Penne with Spicy Sun-Dried Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce

Wow, we have had some  gorgeous days here in the Midwest. It has been in the 60′s for the past 4 days.I have been taking advantage of the nice weather with taking a walk, grilling, washing my car and my favorite…putting my top down on my car  I am getting Spring Fever really bad!

I planned out some meals this morning and hit the grocery to stock up on the ingredients. Tonight I made a recipe that I had saved on my recipe box on Epicurious.com, Pasta with Spicy Sun-Dried -Tomato Cream Sauce. I changed it up a bit. My version is below.

Penne with Spicy Sun-Dried Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 cup julienne sun-dried tomatoes (not oil packed)
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1 cup half and half
• 1 12 ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
• 1 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1 pound whole grain penne pasta – I thought I would make it a little healthy with the whole grain;)
• 1 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic; saute 1 minute. Add tomatoes and peppers; saute a few minutes. Add crushed red pepper and creams simmer over medium heat 2 minutes. Stir in 3/4 cup basil and 1 cup cheese; simmer 2 minute longer. Season with salt and pepper. You can keep this on low if your pasta is not done.

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain. Put pasta into a serving dish. Add sauce and toss around. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and basil.

Note: Kate and I decided that this would also be yummy with cooked chicken or shrimp added.

Ingredient Line up minus the half and half. I tend to make decisions to add or change things while cooking the recipe

I got all the chopping done ahead of time and had Mark grate the cheese while I started cooking. The jar of peppers I had on hand were mixed red, yellow and orange.

Saute garlic, then add peppers and tomatoes. Saute a few minutes.

Stir in cream, red pepper and basil.

Add cheese.

Pour sauce over cooked noodles. Stir around.

Top with remaining cheese and basil.

Penne with Spicy Sun-Dried Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce

The garlic, roasted peppers and sun-dried tomatoes are a great combination. Then a little heat from the crushed pepper flakes…soo good.

~Relish Food & Life

Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup

Procrastinating again…not done with cleaning out my closet. I have been wanting to make this soup, so thought I would make it before I tackle the closet again.

I made quite a few changes to the original recipe. I know there a tons of people out there who love condensed tomato soup, but I am not a big fan , so that got nixed! I used chicken broth instead of vegetable broth. I used fresh onion and garlic instead of powder. If you click on Taste of Home below…you will see the changes.

                                                               Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup                                                                     Adapted from Taste of Home.

• 1 package (9 oz) refrigerated cheese tortellini
• 1/2 cup onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• olive oil
• 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups 1 % milk**
• 2 cups heavy cream**
• 1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
• 2 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• pinch of red pepper flakes
• 1 cup of Parmesan cheese plus extra when serving

Cook tortellini according to package directions.  Meanwhile, heat 1 T olive in a dutch oven. Add onions and saute until soft, add garlic and saute for another minute. Add crushed tomatoes, broth, milk, cream, parmesan cheese,  basil, salt and pepper. Heat through, stirring frequently. Carefully add drained tortellini. When serving add additional parmesan cheese.

** The original recipe called for 2 cups 2 % milk and 2 cups half and half. I had 1 % and heavy cream in the frig, so that is what I used. You certainly could do the 2 % and half and half and still get a yummy soup.

Ingredient Line up...minus onion.

Saute onion in olive oil.

Add garlic and saute (next time I might saute the sun-dried tomatoes with the garlic and onions)

Add tomatoes,

broth,

cream and milk,

sun-dried tomatoes,

salt, pepper, basil,

and cheese. Heat until soup is hot. Stirring frequently.

add cooked tortellini. Heat for a few more minutes.

When serving garnish with additional cheese on top.

Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup....and yes that is what I ate for breakfast

Back to the closet or until my mind wonders and think of something else I want to cook

Thought for the day!

~Relish Food & Life!