Four Cheese Tortellini with Bacon and Peas

So I think I hit a winner with this one! When I went to look for images (I don't have a camera, so I can't take my own pictures), I saw cheese tortellini with bacon and peas all over the place! In fact, I may even have taken inspiration for this from someone on my blogroll, but it went into my head and came out without a reference.

I made this without a recipe, so let's just say it's mine, with inspiration from the blogs I read, alright? Thanks.

Ah, cheese. What would I do without you? Cheese and I go way back, we've always loved each other, and cheese will still be there for me when all other things wither and fade away. Cheese, how I love you. Four cheese tortellini?! Yes please!! 

I've been dying to try the Pick n Pay fresh pastas, but was worried about making a sauce that would complement, not drown, them. So, with inspiration from the blogs, I came up with this.

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Four Cheese Tortellini with Bacon and Peas

Ingredients

1 package Four Cheese Tortellini (at ±R35 from Pnp, it's on the pricey side, but SO worth it)

5 rashers bacon (whatever cut you like, I use back bacon)

100-200g peas (depending what you like, I scatter them over until it looks enough)

6 medium size mushrooms, any kind (any kind, I used button, but portobellini would be great)

125ml cream

1 tsp garlic

1 tsp chopped fresh parsley

Method:

1. Fry the garlic in a little butter until aromatic, and lightly coloured, but not burnt.
2. Fry the bacon until cooked, and set aside to cool.
3. Fry the mushrooms with the garlic, until the water starts to draw.
4. Put the pasta on to cook. The fresh pasta will take under 5 minutes. Drain and set aside when cooked.
5. When the bacon is cool, chop into pieces, and add back to the pan with the mushrooms and garlic.
6. Scoop out about a cup (±250ml) of the pasta water, and put into the pan with the fried mushrooms, garlic and bacon.
7. Simmer for a few minutes to reduce the liquid.
8. Add the cream, a bit at a time, and allow it to come to a simmer.
9. Pour frozen peas over the sauce.
10. Simmer until slightly thickened.
11. Toss the sauce with the pasta, and toss with some chopped parsley

This is tasty, fast and easy, a great quick week night meal!
Enjoy!