Pasta parcels

Very quick.  The pasta bit of this is really quick. I usually serve it with steak for your dad and me but it would be dinner on its own for Sara.

Buy tortelloni from the supermarket - fresh pasta section is in the refrigerator section (milk, cheese, butter, meats). I always buy the spinach and ricotta version (ricotta is a type of cheese).
While you are there you might like to get some garlic bread to have with it - they come ready to oven bake.

Method

Set a medium sized pan of water to boil on the stove

Chop up a large red onion - small pieces but not minute - I usually peel the onion (dry layers, and any blemished or soggy layers. Cut the whole thing in half. Take a half cut it into slices across and then turn it 90 degrees and cut them slices across them again - this will result in chopped pieces as opposed to slices or strips or rings.

   

Heat a bit of oil in a frying pan. When it is hot (wear an apron to protect your clothes, watch out for spitting oil) put in the chopped onion. Fry it until it slightly browns (this is called caramelised onion - no black burnt bits, but crisp edges and cooked through)

When the water is boiling put all the pasta into the boiling water and let it boil for 5 minutes (really doesn't take long, don't over cook it - over cooked fresh pasta is horribly soggy).

The pasta will go slightly paler as it cooks. After no more than 5 minutes drain the pasta (pour it, over the sink, into a seive or colander, or hold a pan lid against the food and pour the water out).

Put the cooked onions into the pasta (return the drained pasta to the saucepan), mix them well. Grind black pepper into it and mix it in.

Serve onto plates.

Grate a bit of Parmesan cheese over the top.

Good with a salad of green leaves, cucumber and tomatoes.