Valentine’s Day is a special time reserved for our loved ones. Besides a card, what are you going to give this year to your special love, your date, your husband or wife?  I tell you from experience that the best gift is one you make yourself. So why not give a meal with a special surprise….you did it yourself!!!

You will be the star of the show with this homemade ravioli recipe! You don’t have to make the dough, but you fill the dough with delicious ingredients…fresh ricotta, roasted garlic, mozzarella, basil…and transform them into an extraordinary mouthful of cheesy yumminess. We made these in my last cooking class and the results were outrageous. As an extra special treat, you can even buy a heart shaped cookie cutter and make  Valentine’s ravioli!! What a great way to make someone feel loved and cherished.

Open a bottle of Prosecco and get started!

HOMEMADE CHEESE RAVIOLI

Serves 4

1 cup drained ricotta cheese

¼ pound mozzarella cheese, shredded

1 tablespoon fresh garlic chopped, or roasted garlic

2  tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped

2 tablespoons fresh julienned basil , saving some for garnish

½ cup grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese, saving some for garnish

1 egg, beaten

Salt and pepper

Eggwash (2 eggs whisked with 2 tablepoons water)

2 pounds fresh pasta sheets (if using dry, not fresh pasta, boil pasta for 1 minute first, then drain well)

4 cups marinara sauce or pasta sauce of your choice

 Combine in a mixing bowl ricotta, mozzarella, garlic, parsley, basil, parmigiano, egg, and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Chill in refrigerator a few minutes to firm up the filling.
Brush the top surface of pasta with egg wash. Drop 1 tablespoon of filling about 2 inches apart on the sheet of pasta. Top with another sheet of pasta. With your fingers, gently press out air pockets around each mound of filling and form a seal. Cut out each square. Brush again with egg wash. Check to make sure the crimped edges are very well sealed before cooking.
Cook the ravioli in plenty of boiling salted water for about 4 minutes. Meanwhile, warm the pasta sauce on the stovetop. Ravioli will float to the top when cooked so be careful not to overcrowd the pot. Lift the ravioli from water with a slotted spoon. Top with your favorite pasta sauce, grated parmigiano cheese, and fresh basil.