When I was a little girl, my parents had a lot of silly names for things. One I remember distinctly was what they called tortellini. Are you ready for it? Monkey buttons! Like the belly buttons of monkeys. I’m not sure when I realized that “tortellini” was not Italian for “a monkey’s belly button”, but I know it was always one of my favorite childhood foods. When we make food fun for children, they’re definitely more likely to eat it! Keeping these kiddos happy and well-fed is a priority in my family.
Working several part-time jobs from home, I don’t always have as much time as I would like to prepare a from-scratch meal for my family. Three Cheese Tortellini contains pasta made fresh from just three simple ingredients (fresh eggs, semolina flour, and water) and is then filled with three Italian cheeses (ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan and Romano). This Tortellini Carbonara is a balanced meal that contains items from each of the four food groups, making it a perfect dish for children and adults. It can be prepared in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients:
- 20 ounce package of Three Cheese Tortellini
- 1 cup cream
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 4 slices lean bacon
- 1 small onion, diced
- salt & pepper to taste
Directions:
Begin by gathering the ingredients. I quickly cooked the lean bacon. I reserved a small amount of the bacon fat to sauté the onions until they were translucent. Then I added the peas to heat them through. Set this mixture aside.
Meanwhile, I brought water to a boil in a large pot and added the entire package of BUITONI® Three Cheese Tortellini. In just minutes, they were finished!
At the same time, in the pan that you used for the bacon, onion, and peas, combine the cream and grated parmesan cheese. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, whisking the whole time. The cream will thicken (think Alfredo sauce).
In a bowl, crack two eggs. Add the hot pasta to the bowl. Then add the reduced cream and cheese mixture. Toss quickly to coat the pasta. The hot pasta and cream mixture will “cook” the eggs, creating a savory custard. Add the crumbled bacon, along with the peas and onions, to the pasta. Toss again and serve.
This dish is delicious served alongside your favorite salad. I sliced tomato and cucumber, added a chiffonade of basil, and tossed with a simple vinaigrette. This was a tasty, healthy side dish to accompany the Tortellini Carbonara.
- 20 ounce package of BUITONI® Three Cheese Tortellini
- 1 cup cream
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 4 slices lean bacon
- 1 small onion, diced
- salt & pepper to taste
- Begin by gathering the ingredients. I quickly cooked the lean bacon. I reserved a small amount of the bacon fat to sauté the onions until they were translucent. Then I added the peas to heat them through. Set this mixture aside.
- Meanwhile, I brought water to a boil in a large pot and added the entire package of BUITONI® Three Cheese Tortellini. In just minutes, they were finished!
- At the same time, in the pan that you used for the bacon, onion, and peas, combine the cream and grated parmesan cheese. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, whisking the whole time. The cream will thicken (think Alfredo sauce).
- In a bowl, crack two eggs. Add the hot pasta to the bowl. Then add the reduced cream and cheese mixture. Toss quickly to coat the pasta. The hot pasta and cream mixture will “cook” the eggs, creating a savory custard. Add the crumbled bacon, along with the peas and onions, to the pasta. Toss again and serve.
I hope to share my love of cooking with my children by preparing nourishing meals they enjoy. I have always enjoyed cooking. Even as a young child, I watched cooking shows on PBS and could not wait to get into the kitchen myself. One of my favorite childhood memories was going over to my best friend’s house, grabbing one of her mom’s old Betty Crocker cookbooks, selecting a recipe, going shopping with her mom for the ingredients, and preparing it together. I definitely remember making a version of spaghetti carbonara for her family. Maybe my children will want to prepare this dish one day, too!
Print option!!!!
Thanks for the feedback, Verona. I added a printer-friendly version.
What an incredibly delicious meal, Carrie! I shared because it’s so YUM! I’ll share a little story with you, because your’re monkey belly buttons cracked me up! I used to call baby wipe, “booty cleaners.” I did it so much that my little SIL, about nine at the time, really thought that’s what they were called. One day she went inside the store to get some, while I was in the car. She kept asking the workers where the booty cleaners were. Finally, an empathetic worker took her to the feminine care aisle! LOL. She got back to the car, Baby wipes in hand, and gave me a lecture I never forget. It was hilarious. She was red for days. Awesome recipe! #client
That’s too funny!! We have funny words for things in my house, too. I guess at some point I’ll have to teach the kids the real words.
What kind of cream is used I am going to try this?
I used organic heavy cream for this recipe.
Other than the BUITONI® Three Cheese Tortellini , this can easily be made with organic ingredients. The addition of sautéed mushrooms would make this even more nutritious ! Thanks for a good recipe that is fast and yummy.
Yes, Sally! You can add mushrooms, a variety of cheeses, definite proteins like sausage or ham. The great thing about a recipe like this is it is so customizable to your tastes.
This looks amazing! #client