Cheesy Baked Tortellini

Pat Tyler

(pasta, Marinara sauce, mushrooms, olives, cheese, Parmesan)

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

20 oz cheese tortellini pasta
olive oil (EVOO)
1 jar Marinara sauce (El Classico)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 jar sliced mushrooms
1 3-oz can sliced ripe olives
⅓ C mascarpone cheese
Salt & freshly ground black pepper
¼ C chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 tsp chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 oz sliced smoked mozzarella
⅓ C grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare large 3-qt baking dish.
2. Whisk the sauce, garlic, mushrooms, olives, mascarpone cheese, herbs, and salt & pepper.
3. Cook the tortellini in a large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, 5 - 10 min. Drain.
4. Add the Tortellini to the sauce and toss to coat. Transfer the tortellini mixture to the prepared baking dish.
5. Top the mixture with the smoked mozzarella and Parmesan.
6. Cover and bake until sauce bubbles and the cheeses on top melt, about 30 min.