Tortellini Carbonara

Here's is the recipe for Tortellini Carbonara as promised days ago...

2 Tablespoons butter
1/2 lb. cooked ham, cut into 1/2" pieces
4 c. half and half (1 qt)
1 c fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 c chopped onion (I use dried, minced onion or omit it)
1 1/2 c. frozen peas
9 oz fresh cheese filled tortellini

Melt butter in large skilled over medium heat. Stir in onion (if desired) and ham; saute 5 minutes (or until onions are translucent).

Pour in the hafl and hafl and teh cheese, stirring frequently, until the sauce starts to thicken and bubble (this takes quite a while.. if you want it to thicken faster, add a little flour). Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

Fill large pot with water and bring to a boil. Add tortelline and cook to desired doneness, or according to package directions. Add the peas to the boiling tortellini in the final minute of cooking. Drain all from the water and toss with the ham and sauce mixture. Enjoy!

Let me know what you think!

My adventure with Cindi...

So today I went on an adventure with Cindi. She introduced me to the most WONDERFUL spice shop I have ever seen. We sniffed spices until we sneezed and I am now inspired to start making all the recipes I have been wanting to try, but just couldn't find the right ingredients.

Then we headed over to The Little Bubble Tea House and got our first taste of Bubble Tea (I had Tara and Cindi had Almond). The bubbles are GIANT, Black tapioca that sit on the bottom of your glass of tea like a bunch of rocks. You suck them up through a straw that resembles a really long Penne Pasta noodle that has been dyed to a bright color. It was yummy. For those who are not familiar with Bubble Tea, it originated in Tawain and you can "google" it for additional info for your own personal research project.

Sorry, no pictures taken on this memorable day. We will just have to relive the memories in our minds.

Thanks, Karen!

Thank you Karen for taking Grace and I out to the Palace last night! We had a great time and hope to see you again soon! (Everyone can see a picture or two once Karen sends them to me.. hint, hint, hint).

So it has been a while since I posted anything. Not sure why, but things have been quite busy around the Charnesky household. It's the basic busy that after the days have gone you are not really sure what kept you so busy.. just that you were... if you know what I mean. Things have been so busy that I even mowed the lawn in the dark last night (and the best news is that it actually looked fine in the daylight today:)

A few weeks ago I started teaching a couple new piano students and they are doing AWESOME! My youngest student is now 5 years old (I usually don't start teaching until they are at least 8)! Yes, Brandon, I know I need to schedule some time to teach you too:) -- as long as you promise to not pretend you don't know me when you are driving around town with your new girl.. I am your aunt and all and it's very hard not to see me coming in the bright red truck!).

Grace had a Cross Country meet today and did GREAT. I will try to get the pictures off the camera and post them soon (not even sure how they turned out yet). She came in 30th place (out of a lot of girls.. not really sure how many).. running against a lot of REALLY TALL, much OLDER girls on a very challenging course with some large hills. We are very proud of her.

And for those of you interested in what's cooking at our house, I will post the recipe for Tortelline Carbonara. I made it last night for dinner (it's one of those good recipes that you make and then it gets lost somewhere in your recipe box.. then you find it and wonder.. "why haven't I made THAT lately?"). Watch for that coming soon (and of course, as all recipes I make, it is very easy too). More soon!