September 2016 – Jackie Fogartie

Hi all! As usual, I’m going to cut right to the chase here on the ole blog-a-roo. I would love to be that girl that whips up homemade pasta, but in reality, I’m a busy business owner in the middle of wedding season and I just sold my pasta maker on Ebay. (No lie.) When I heard about Parla Pasta (made in HighPoint, North Carolina – NC represent!), I felt like I had discovered this life changing secret.

This family-run business has been creating small batch pastas since 1985 and their slogan is right up my alley – “We Speak Pasta.” Can we say Speaking. My. Language. Much.?

As a card carrying Italian, pasta is my favorite food group. I take my pasta seriously. As with most frozen pastas, I wondered how fresh Parla would be but it honestly blew me away with it’s restaurant quality taste! With many classic varieties like Cheese Ravioli and Asiago Tortellini, I highly suggest keeping Parla Pasta in your freezer for a quick go to meal any day of the week. I’ve provided a list of retailers below as well as a quick recipe for Asiago Tortellini with Quick Tomato Cream Sauce below. As they say in Italy, Salud!

Asiago Tortellini with Quick Tomato Cream Sauce

Serves 3-4, depending on how hungry you are! Serve with an easy salad and some crusty bread!

4-5 cloves minced garlic
Two jars of your favorite tomato sauce
1/2 cup heavy cream

4-6 fresh basil leaves, chopped or chiffonade
Grated Parmesan or Romano, to taste

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1 box Parla Pasta Asiago Tortellini

To begin the sauce (or gravy, as my family calls it), gradually heat up 2 jars of your favorite tomato sauce on the stovetop. If you’re using your homemade gravy or marinara as the base, you can heat that on the stovetop as well. Add the salt, pepper, garlic and some of the grated cheese.

When the tomato sauce is heated through, take off the heat and stir in the heavy cream. You will see the sauce turn into a lovely light red/pinkish color. Then add in the chopped basil, leaving some for garnish.

In the meantime, boil water for your pasta and drop in the pasta when boiling. Pour the finished sauce over the cooked pasta, add more basil for garnish and top with grated cheese.