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Ingredients:
2 pkgs. tri-colored, cheese-filled tortellini
1 bunch fresh asparagus
1/2 oz. prosciutto (or lean country ham)
4 cloves garlic (or equal amount prepared minced)
2 cups cream (or Half and Half)
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
2 Tbsp. pesto
1/4 cup sherry cooking wine or any white wine
1/2 tsp. fresh rosemary
1/4 to 1/2 cup pine nuts
butter
Directions:
First, bring a large saucepan of water to a boil; add 2 packages tri-colored tortellini and let it cook 15-20 minutes (or until al dente). While this is cooking, start on the rest of the dish.
Next, take 1 bunch fresh asparagus and snap off stem end and discard. Diagonally slice spears into 2-inch pieces. Add 1/2 oz diced prosciutto (you can substitute lean country ham pieces), and 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced.
In a large skillet or wok, melt 2 tbsp. butter and sauté these three ingredients, just until savory and asparagus has gotten crisp-tender. Add 1 tbsp. pesto and about 1/4 cup cooking sherry or white wine. Stir to mix well. (Don't overcook! 5 minutes usually does it for this portion of the dish.)
Set aside.
In a saucepan, melt 4 Tbsp. butter over medium heat. Whisk 2 cups cream and 2 tbsp. cornstarch until well-blended. Add to butter in saucepan and whisk or stir constantly until it comes to a boil and begins to thicken. Add 2 more cloves garlic, pressed or minced, 2 Tbsp. pesto, and about a 1/2 tsp. fresh rosemary, minced, if you have it. (This dish will not suffer noticeably if you don't have this ingredient, though it does add a nice note. Once the sauce thickens, set it aside.)
(NOTE: If you have enough presence of mind to make the sauce a day before you want to fix this dish, it really magnifies the flavors! Just put in a covered container and store in the refrigerator until the next evening and proceed as follows.)
After the tortellini has drained completely, place it in theskillet with the sautéed asparagus/prosciutto/pesto mix. Stir to mix these ingredients. Then pour the prepared sauce over all. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup pine nuts. Stir to mix well and allow to sit,covered, on lowest setting for 5 minutes to blend flavors. |
