How To Make The Best Garlic Butter Beef & Spinach Tortellini In Massachusetts
March 23, 2025
Cambridge, VA: Well, my son-in-law just saw me naked.
I’ve been down with the flu the last 8 days. I’m getting better, but I’ve had some nasty side effects (ear infection, nausea, headaches, etc.). So, for the first time in ages, I decided to take a bath.
My daughter gave me a set of bath bombs for Christmas. I decided to try the peach one. I ran the water to the perfect temperature. I added the bath bomb, lit a candle, turned off the lights, and climbed in. 10 minutes later, I was fast asleep.
Here is Where Sh*t Hits The Fan
- I am a VERY heavy sleeper. When I used to work, I had 3 separate alarms to wake me up. And I would still be late sometimes.
- Those “peach” bath bombs weren’t the nice color I expected. Instead, the water looked like it was mixed with blood. Whoever designed them might need a new career.
- From what I was told, when I fell asleep, I faced away from the door. My hair was draped so it looked like I was lying face down in the water.
So when my husband came home and walked into the bathroom, he came to this logical conclusion….
Somebody Murdered My Wife!!!
I was told he let out a blood curdling scream. I never heard it. Like I said, I am a very heavy sleeper. Plus I was worn out from being so sick. My son in law comes flying up the stairs to see what’s wrong. By then I had been asleep so long, the bubbles were gone. So he witnessed me in ALL my glory. My husband then tried to grab me to check my pulse. At that point, my nose hit the water, and I woke up.
I look at my husband and my son in law. Their eyes were as big bowling balls. They were looking at me like I had 2 heads. There was a very…… awkward……. pause. I then yell, “Get the h*ll out of here!” They scurried away like roaches when the lights turn on.
They explained what happened, and I understood completely. I wasn’t sure who was more embarrassed. My son-in-law or me. I’m 68, so there’s not much to show off nowadays. But I needed to ease the tension. So I looked my son in law right in the eye and joked, “Well, the least you could do is buy a girl dinner.” We all laughed and felt a bit better.
My son in law is a professional chef. Here is the meal he made for us that night. It’s one of my favorites and he okayed me sharing this recipe. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Bald Buck Seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 package (20 oz) refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the tortellini and cook according to the package instructions (usually 3-5 minutes until they float). Before draining, save 1 cup of the pasta water. Drain and set the tortellini aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spatula. Drain any excess fat if needed.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the garlic, Bald Buck seasoning, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir and cook for about 1 minute until the garlic is fragrant.
- Pour in the beef broth and bring it to a simmer. Let it cook for a couple of minutes to blend the flavors. Add the butter and stir until melted.
- Toss in the cooked tortellini and mix well to coat it in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a little of the reserved pasta water until you reach the desired consistency.
- Add the fresh spinach and stir just until it wilts, about 1 minute. Sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, then give everything a final stir.
Pro Tips:
- Reserve Pasta Water: Saving a cup of the tortellini’s cooking water can help adjust the sauce’s consistency, making it creamier and helping it adhere better to the pasta.
- My Husband’s Favorite Modification: Swap ground beef for ground turkey, add a spoonful of tomato paste, and about half a cup of heavy cream.
- Bald Buck: This is the secret ingredient. BBQ Pitmasters swear by it for their meats. By accident, I discovered it makes for one heck of seasoned salt. It adds an amazing, unique flavor. Yet, people can never pinpoint exactly what that flavor is. Try it in this dish. More importantly, experiment with it as a salt replacement. There are a lot YouTube reviews on it, but the best one I found is below. Also, you can buy it from various places online, but the best deals are directly on their website.