Top Chef Challenge #3

This week the "special" ingredient was BACON.  Who doesn't love bacon, okay besides my wacko sister, everyone loves bacon.  I couldn't decide between using either spinach or bacon as this weeks ingredient, and lucky me, I found a recipe that incorporated both.

Tortellini Spinach Bake in Creamy Lemon Sauce















Ingredients:
12 oz bag of cheese and/or spinach tortellini
4 oz bacon (about 4 strips)
2 tbs flour
2 C milk
salt and pepper
1/4 tso red pepper flakes (more if ya like it spicy)
1 medium lemon
2 C loosely packed fresh spinach, roughly chopped (using scissors makes it so easy)
3/4 C grated mozzarella cheese
3/4 C grated Parmesan cheese
(optional: 2-3 chicken breasts)


Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil.  Add tortellini and cook according to package instructions.  I bought a package of tortellini from Costco and only used about half.

Cook back in a medium sized skillet at medium-high heat. 

The recipe didn't call for chicken, but I had some leftover and thought it'd be a good addition.  (it was!)










Reserve 2 tbsp of bacon grease and add garlic to pan and cook about 1 minute. 

Add flour to pan and stirk with a whisk for about 1 minute.  Slowly add milk and continue to stir with whisk until smooth.  Add salt, pepper, basil, red pepper flakes and bring sauce to a simmer.

While sauce is heating, use a cheese grater to zest lemon.  Cut lemon in half and add 1 tbsp lemon juice and 2 tsps zest to sauce.  Continue to stir until thickened, about 2-3 minutes.  Remove from heat.

Drain tortellini.

Add spinach, bacon, mozzarella and parmasean cheeses to the sauce.  Add sauce to tortellini and gently stir.

Cover 8x8 or 9x9 pan with foil and bake 20 minutes.  Remove foil and bake an additional 5-10 minutes. 

Not going to lie, it was pretty delish - but if you're not expecting the lemon it really gets ya!