Dinner Time

I made this for House Dinner last night and everyone loved it! I had it for the first time on Monday at a friend's Pampered Chef party. I was totally blown away by the dish because I really don't like jalapeno pepper, spinach, or tomato, and these are the key ingredients. For some reason those three combined and topped with cheese just work!

The Pampered Chef Zesty Ravioli Skillet

(from The Pampered Chef, Season's Best Recipe Collection, Fall/Winter 2009)

1/3 cup (75 mL) heavy whipping cream

4 cups (1 L) loosely packed fresh baby spinach leaves

6 oz (175 g) provolone cheese, grated

1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil
1 small jalapeño pepper, seeded
3 garlic cloves, pressed
2 cans (14.5 oz/398 mL each) diced tomatoes with onions, undrained
1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
1/2 tsp (2 mL) coarsely ground black pepper
1 pkg (24 oz/700 g) small frozen cheese ravioli (about 65)*
Halved grape tomatoes (optional)

Measure cream using Easy Read Measuring Cup. Wash spinach in large Stainless Mesh Colander; drain. Grate cheese using Ultimate Mandoline fitted with grating blade. Set aside cream, spinach and cheese.

Add oil to (12-in./30-cm) Skillet; heat over medium-high heat 1-3 minutes or until shimmering. Finely chop jalapeño with Food Chopper. Add jalapeño to Skillet; cook and stir 1 minute or until crisp-tender. Press garlic into Skillet with Garlic Press; cook and stir 15-20 seconds or until fragrant.

Add tomatoes, salt and black pepper to Skillet; cook and stir with Bamboo Spatula 1-2 minutes or until simmering. Add ravioli; stir to coat. Cook, uncovered, 4-5 minutes or until tender. Stir cream into Skillet. Cook, uncovered, 1-2 minutes or until simmering. Sprinkle spinach over ravioli; cook, covered, 1 minute or until spinach starts to wilt.

Remove Skillet from heat. Top with cheese; cover Skillet and let stand 1-2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Garnish with grape tomatoes, if desired.

Yield: 8 servings

* I substituted meat ravioli for my husband, who doesn't believe in vegetarian dishes. It worked great, and the only thing we'll do different next time is add a little bit of tomato sauce to thicken things up a bit.