Creamy Tomato Sauce for Pasta

smoke alarm jr's Note:

I made Ceil in NJ's homemade ravioli and was looking for a rich but smooth sauce to accompany it. Tomato based with cheese, cream, pesto, and garlic. A great combination! This sauce is also excellent in lasagna! Easy and quick to make. A little goes a long way. Enjoy!

• Total Time: 10 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 2 cups

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 crushed garlic cloves (more if preferred)
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1⁄8; teaspoon salt
• fresh ground pepper
• 3 tablespoons cream cheese
• 2 -3 teaspoons pesto sauce
• ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• ½ cup cream
• fresh basil , to top with

Directions:

1. Heat olive oil over medium heat.
2. Sauté crushed garlic for 1-2 minutes.
3. Stir in tomato sauce.
4. Add salt, pepper, and pesto.
5. Add cream cheese and stir or whisk well until fully melted.
6. Stir parmesan cheese until melted.
7. Add cream and stir well.

Reviews

[newspapergal]

I made this, exactly, for Valentine's Day over whole-wheat gnocchi. I thought it needed just a bit more garlic, but DH pronounced it "perfect." It really paired well with the gnocchi (that I served with a Caesar and bruschetta), and I will definitely make this again. I used reduced-fat cream cheese b/c it's what I had on hand, and I'll try FF half & half in the future. Great, great flavor & consistency, and this came together in a flash -- and it reheats well to boot. A winner!