Homemade Tortellini Alfredo

Tortellini

1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
2 TBS chopped spinach
1 egg
1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
Fresh pasta, recipe follows
1 egg mixed with 1/2 tsp. water

In a bowl combine all ingredients, except for the pasta and egg wash. Using the fresh pasta recipe, roll out your dough either by hand or by machine. Cut into 3 or 4" rounds with a round cookie cutter. Place 1/4 tsp. into the center of each round. Brush egg wash (on the bottom half of the round and fold over to seal. Fold back around your finger and turn down the edge to form a tortellini. In a half a gallon of rapidly boiling salted water add the tortellini in batches. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until they float to the surface. Remove to a strainer to drain.

Fresh Pasta:
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
3 TBS water
1 tsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt
By Hand: On a clean surface make a well with the flour. In a measuring cup mix the eggs, water and oil and salt. Pour the wet mixture slowly into the flour and mix with your 2 fingers until all of the wet is incorporated. Do not force the dough to take all of the flour. If you are going to use a pasta machine to roll out the dough you may at this point form the dough into a disk and cover with plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator for 1 hour to rest. If you are going to roll this by hand you should knead the dough on a flour work surface for 8-10 minutes.

Easiest and Best Homemade Alfredo Sauce

1/2 cup butter
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese
1 cup half and half
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
1 TBS. garlic powder (optional)
pepper, to taste

In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Once butter is almost melted, add the package of cream cheese. It's easiest to cut it into 4 pieces so that it melts quicker. Once butter and cream cheese are mixed well together, add the cup of half and half, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and then shake pepper on top. Stir all together until well mixed. Once it's mixed well and saucelike, take it off the burner and set aside so it can thicken up. Stir every few minutes. Done! Pour over your favorite pasta.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for this recipe. Especially the alfredo sauce. This is definitely going in my recipe box!

You are welcome.