Golden Mashed Potatoes

I got a variation of this recipe for make-ahead mashed potatoes from my friend Jean some years ago...and I made it many times over the years. It's nice to have the potatoes mashed ahead of time and ready for the table piping hot at dinner time.

Ingredients:

• 10 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup herbed cream cheese (we like herb and garlic)
• 1/4 cup milk
• salt & pepper to taste
• crumbled bacon bits and chopped green onions for topping
  

Method:

1. Cook potatoes in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until tender. Drain.
2. Mash potatoes...adding cream cheese, sour cream, butter, milk, chives and salt & pepper.
3. Mash until creamy.
4. Spoon into lightly greased casserole...and allow to cool for 30 minutes.
5. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to two days...discard plastic wrap before baking.
6. Bake at 350°F for one hour or until heated through.
7. Sprinkle with bacon bits and green onions.
   
   Optional topping ~ Sprinkle with 1/2 cup grated cheese before baking and omit bacon bits.
   
   
   

Easy Tortellini Casserole

Here's a simple casserole...perfect for Sunday lunch or a quick company dinner. It can be served as a meatless dish...or include meat of your choice.

Ingredients:

• 1 350 gram pkg. Olivieri Cheese Tortellini (or use herb and cheese)
• 1 each red, green and yellow pepper, cut into chunks
• 1 onion, sliced or chopped
• 1 jar 700 ml. Classico pasta sauce (spicy red pepper is great)
• 1 - 2 cups grated cheddar cheese (I like to add a little Parmesan as well)
• 1 pound farmer sausage, sliced diagonally (optional)

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to directions.
2. Stir fry veggies until tender crisp.
3. Add to cooked, drained pasta...along with pasta sauce.
4. Stir together and put into casserole dish.
5. Top with grated cheese.
6. Cook at 350°F for 30-40...covering until near the end.

*If you are adding sausage, saute and stir in before putting into casserole dish.

Serve with a green salad and enjoy the taste of home-cooked Italian without a whole lot of home-cooking.

*Note ~ The Olivieri pasta is a Canadian product...but use your favorite fresh tortellini. Canadian products are sold by metric measure...metric conversion tables are readily available on-line, although measures aren't too important in this dish.