Plate Licking Good

This is such an easy dinner to make.  Anyone can throw this together in about 15 - 20 minutes. No leftovers around here with this one.

Tortellini Alfredo

2 packages of McCormick Creamy Garlic Alfredo sauce mix

2 bags of frozen cheese tortellini

1  cup diced ham

1/2 cup frozen peas

2 cups milk

2 T. olive oil

2 T. butter

parmesan cheese

Boil water and cook tortellini according to package directions.

Heat butter and olive in large saute' pan.  Add contents of sauce packages and stir until well blended. Stir in milk and heat over medium heat until thickened.  While sauce is cooking, heat ham in a frying pan until it starts to brown just a bit and add it to the sauce (you can skip this step and just add the ham to the sauce, but I like the way it tastes when the ham gets a little toasty).  Stir in the frozen peas.  Heat over low for a few minutes, until peas are hot.  Pour sauce over tortellini and serve with fresh grated parmesan cheese.  I love the ham and peas, but you could definitely leave those out.  This sauce is so yummy and creamy even though I cut the amount of butter way down and use skim milk.

A couple of my boys prefer red sauce, so I leave a couple of servings of the tortellini plain and let them top it with some marinara.  This is also great with some sliced fresh mushrooms stirred in (add to butter/olive oil at the beginning).  I love to throw some frozen garlic toast in the oven while I'm making the tortellini.