Easy Meal for a Busy Day

Life has been somewhat hectic for me. In recent days, I've had difficulty coming up with dinner ideas that my handicapped son might eat. He fractured his leg, specifically his femur, about a month ago. Typically, I prepare meals once or twice a week to help us through the workdays. However, I've been at home for some time to care for him, and I'm struggling to discover new meal options.

However, tonight I believe I've managed to introduce something new. I purchased frozen tortellini a few days back, primarily because my son is a pasta enthusiast. He loves spaghetti, ravioli, lasagna, and fettuccine, but we haven't tried tortellini before.

What I didn't realize was that I was out of pasta sauce. On a whim, I consulted the AI on my phone. "Hey Google," I said, and my phone lit up. "What kind of sauce can I use on tortellini?" As always, Google had the answer for me.

It guided me through making a simple butter sauce that requires just three ingredients: butter, garlic, and sage. I had all of these in my cupboard, though they weren't fresh. I should note that the entire meal was ready in the time it took to cook the pasta.

• Frozen tortellini (I used the family size and made the whole bag)

• Butter sauce: 2 sticks of butter, 3 tablespoons of minced garlic, and 1/2 tsp of ground sage. (If you are only making half the bag of tortellini, cut these measurements in half.)

I prepared the tortellini following the instructions on the package. In a small pot, I melted two sticks of butter. Once fully melted and slightly frothy, I added the garlic and sage, allowing it to simmer on low heat.

Once the pasta was floating and cooked, I drained it and reserved a couple of tablespoons of the starchy water to mix into the butter sauce, which makes it a bit creamier. I combined them, served it up, and sprinkled some parmesan cheese on top. Voilà... done!

After doing some research, I discovered that adding chicken, ground beef, or bacon could introduce some protein to the meal. Vegetables like peas, asparagus, or broccoli can be served as a side dish to complement it. If you're like me, you'll use whatever you already have on hand.

By the way, it was delicious! I'm definitely going to make it again. Happy easy cooking, everyone.