Making Art out of Rubbish

I wouldn’t exactly call what you find in your pantry or fridge “rubbish,” but you know what I mean.

I’ve found myself with time on my hands since Miles has decided to go to grad school. I stand in front of an open refrigerator door, starring at it’s contents. I mosey over to the pantry and gaze the different shelves, trying to make something come together. Serendipity comes when planning a late meal for him.

I had a handful of shrimp left over from making jambalaya the other day and I knew it would be just enough to make one meal. I decided shrimp Alfredo fettucinni would be just right for Miles, but then what was I going to do with the remaining Alfredo sauce.

Looking in the fridge I spied fresh spinach, about a half cup of diced tomatoes, and a couple of mushrooms. Not knowing what all this meant I scoured the pantry. I’m one of those take-it-or-leave-it girls when it comes to meat. I didn’t think I’d be adding meat to this concoction but I knew just pasta wasn’t going to be enough. After pushing around some jars and bags, I found a lost package of cheese tortellini. It had probably been waiting for me for months, because apparently I had forgotten I purchased it. Tortellini would be sufficient for this dish.

I started a pan of boiling water to cook the tortellini. It takes about 12 minutes to cook so  I waited until the water boiled and I added the tortellini to start the next steps.

In a small skillet, because this was just going to be for me, I added less than a teaspoon of Olive Oil and turned the heat to medium. While the pan warmed I got out my minced garlic and began cleaning and slicing the mushrooms.

I cooked the garlic in the oil for less than a minute then added the mushrooms. Once I stirred this around and got the mushrooms all covered in oil I added salt and pepper.

After a minute or two and before the mushrooms were completely sauteed, I added the tomatoes. I pushed the tomatoes to the bottom so the would get heated. 

Then, using a wooden spoon, I mashed the diced tomatoes until they weren’t so chunky. By now the mushrooms were cooked and the garlic and tomatoes were mixed. 

I took large handfuls of spinach and put that on top. 

It looks like too much spinach, but it takes a lot of fresh spinach because it will wilt down considerably. I let it rest for a minute, waiting for the heat of the pan to start wilting the spinach. 

Slowly I scooped the mushrooms and tomatoes from the bottom and added it to the top of the spinach, slowly working the spinach down to the bottom.

When the spinach had completely wilted, 

I added half a jar of Classico Four Cheese Alfredo sauce. There is no shame in jars and cans.

While I let this heat for another minute or two, I drained the tortellini.

Finally I added the cooked tortellini and mixed well. I must say it was delicious and easy.         

Any kind of leftover meat would be good in this, or even pan frying some Eckrich smoked sausage. You could add any number of vegetables and remove what you don’t like. Mozzarella or swiss cheese could be added. Even some heat from a jalalpeno or dried red peppers would be good.

Look around the kitchen and see what goes together. You never know what art you can create.

Give this a try and tell me what you think.

Happy Cooking!

Alfredo Tortellini

Tsp Olive Oil

1/4 Tsp Garlic, minced

2 Mushrooms, sliced

1/4 C Tomatoes, diced

1/2 Baby Spinach bag

1/2 Jar Classico Alfredo Sauce(any kind)

1/2 Cheese Tortellini  bag

In a boiling pot of water, add tortellini and cook as directed.

Once tortellini is added to water, add oil to a small saucepan and turn the heat on medium. 

While the pan and oil heats, clean and slice mushrooms. Add the garlic to the oil and after a couple of passes around the oil with a wooden spoon, add mushrooms. Stir around to cover the mushrooms with oil and add some salt and pepper. Saute for a few minutes.

Add the diced tomatoes and cook until heated through.

Add the spinach and cook until wilted.

Add the Alfredo sauce and heat for a few minutes. 

Add cooked tortellini and mix well.