Hearth Shaped Cheese Ravioli! (homemade)

Gentleman, Do you need help making an epic Valentine's day dinner? Here is something that might help woo her heart! Being single, I decided to get a little practice in with presentation and how things look.  After all, appearances are the first impression.  Right, ladies? 

So I thought to myself, "Self, What would a your valentine want, if you had a valentine?"  I figured she'd want a home cooked pasta meal that looked great and came from the heart.  

Ha!  So, out came homemade, heart-shaped cheese ravioli's!

Make some fresh pasta into thin sheets.  You can find my recipe here!

Cheese Filling recipe:
1 Cup Ricotta Cheese (drained)
1/2 Cup Fresh Grated Parmesan
1 Egg
Salt and Pepper to taste

Mix all the ingredients together and chill for 1 hour to firm up the cheese.

Next take the sheets of pasta and put dollops of  the cheese mixture approximately 2-3 inches apart from each other.  Brush around the cheese with an egg wash and place another sheet of pasta over it.   seal and shape with your fingers.  If you have a cookie cutter it makes it so much easier.  I didn't have one so I cut each one by hand.  It was quite a challenge. 

After you have each one made, make sure you dust them with flour really well.  place them on a cookie sheet and freeze.  This helps the ravioli stay together when you cook them.  Boil in salted water for 4 minutes or until thoroughly cooked.   

The Sauce:
I used a very simple tomato sauce.  It's a sauced I learned by watching random you tube videos! It's a simple San Marzano Basil Sauce.  This sauce is so tasty it doesn't need anything else!!

Ingredients:
3 Garlic Cloves (Chopped)
1 28 Oz. Can of San Marzano Tomatoes (Crushed by hand)
Chopped basil
2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Start by heating the oil in a pan over medium heat.  When the oil starts to break apart a bit add the garlic and let it saute for a bit do not burn the garlic so stir it often. Turn up the heat to medium-high and add the tomatoes.  You'll get a nice sizzle when you add in the tomato sauce. reduce the heat and simmer the sauce for about 10 minutes.   Add in the basil and cook for an additional two minutes. 

Plating: I ladle some sauce on the bottom of the plate,  Place two raviolis on top of the sauce and garnish with grated parmesan cheese and some more basil.  

I love visiting the Italian side of my family!  ;-)

Molto Bene!  Mangia!

Happy Valentines Day!
Don Jimmy