Women at work and their tips, challenges, advice, complaints, and experiences

A few weeks ago we hit Trader Joe's and did a little browsing - super fun, since I haven't been in a TJ's for almost a year.  While we were there I picked up a package of organic cherry tomatoes, expecting to buy salad greens and other items the next day at the commissary.  That didn't happen because all they had left when we went was iceberg lettuce; but I still had those tomatoes to use up!

I decided to try my hand at something that seemed easy in theory for dinner: three-cheese tortellini with tomatoes, along with a simple dressing of EVOO and grated parmesan.  Luckily it turned out well, and frankly, was really enjoyable to cook up.  

In my case I used a smaller packet of Buitoni tortellini as a full dinner for our family (two adults and one child), but those of you with larger dinners to prepare would want to use this as a side or simply up the portions appropriately.  Here's the skinny on a quick, healthy, and downright fun to cook recipe:

What You Need:

• one packet of Buitoni whole wheat three cheese tortellini (I used the 9 oz package, but there are larger ones to be had)
• a handful of cherry tomatoes (adjust as necessary), rinsed and sliced
• 2 T extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
  
• 2 T grated parmesan
• dried basil
• dried oregano

What To Do:

• Prepare pasta according to directions on package.
• While pasta cooks, rinse and slice your tomatoes.
• Drain pasta; do not rinse.
• Place tomatoes in pot and begin to cook, lightly turning over.
• Return pasta to pot after 2-3 minutes; mix pasta and tomatoes together gently.  (You want the tomatoes to start cooking and shrinking, but you don't want to MASH them!)
• Drizzle with about 1 T of EVOO; sprinkle with basil and oregano (about 1/8 tsp each); mix together gently.
• Let cook for 2-3 minutes.
• Drizzle with remaining 1 T of EVOO; sprinkle with another 1/8 tsp of spices and shake a light coating of grated parmesan.  Mix together gently.
• Cook additional 2-3 minutes and remove from heat.
• Serve immediately as a main dish or as a side - I'm thinking this would be nice with some cubed steaks or grilled salmon.  If you had broccoli on hand you could chop some of that up and add to the pot before the tomatoes (letting it cook until slightly softened) or steam it as a second side.