Tortellini Carbonara (You Asked For It, You Got It)

Several of you asked yesterday for this recipe so I figured there is no time like the present it offer it up to all of you. I am not sure if you have ever been to Buca Di Beppo’s but I have a mild obsession with their tortellini. In an “Oh my gosh–Easter is tomorrow and I haven’t even thought about what I am making yet” panic, I turned to Google and searched “Buca Di Beppo’s tortellini recipe”. How I thought to do this I am not really sure, but oh how happy I am that I did. This dish is absolutely delicious if you enjoy anything that involves pasta, cheese, ham, and more cheese. It may not be the healthiest meals of sorts but that’s why it tastes as good as it does. Flavor wins. Sorry healthy people. Without further ado, I present you this life changing recipe. 

1/2 pound cooked ham (chopped) 

4 cups half and half

1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese

2 bags frozen cheese tortellini

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 1/2 cups green peas

2 tablespoons butter

salt and pepper to taste

1. Melt the butter in a skillet with ham and onion. Saute for 5 minutes or so. 

2. Pour in the half and half while also stirring in the Parmesan cheese. You will want to stir frequently while the cheese melts. Bring sauce to a boil and allow it to thicken (this may take 20 minutes or so to develop a nice thick sauce). You may add some salt and pepper to the sauce while it thickens. Set sauce aside. 

3. Boil water in a separate pot and cook tortellini according to the package (around 5 minutes or so). The last minute or two pour in your peas and allow them to cook with the tortellini. Drain water.