Stuffed Shells

Occasionally I like to share a recipe that I find AND that turns out scrumptious! Today I found one…..tonight it was indeed scrumptious.

I found the recipe at Food Network courtesy of Rachael Ray. Click on the recipe name to be directed to the website/recipe.

4 Cheese Stuffed Shells 

Ingredients
Salt
8 pieces jumbo pasta shells
1 1/2 pounds ricotta cheese or part skim ricotta cheese
1 pound mozzarella, diced
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1 cup shredded Asiago
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 or 7 leaves fresh basil, torn or shredded

Directions
Preheat oven or broiler to 450 degrees F.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt water and add pasta. Cook shells 12 to 15 minutes, they should be softened but still undercooked at the center. Drain pasta and cool.
Combine ricotta, 1/2 of the diced mozzarella, a couple of handfuls of Parmigiano and 1/2 of the Asiago. Add parsley to the cheeses and stir to combine.
To a small saucepot over moderate heat add oil, garlic and onions. Saute onions and garlic 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and season sauce with salt and pepper. Simmer sauce 5 minutes and stir in basil leaves
Pour a little sauce into the bottom of a shallow medium sized casserole dish. Fill shells with rounded spoonfuls of cheese mixture and arrange them seam side down in casserole dish. Top shells with remaining sauce and remaining mozzarella and Asiago cheeses. Place shells in very hot oven or 8 inches from hot broiler and cook 6 to 8 minutes to melt cheeses and bubble sauce.

NOTE: I added some Italian sausage to the sauce. It added just the right spice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall, this was an awesome recipe. We’ll have leftovers tomorrow evening. This is a keeper!

P.S. My daughters and I all got new crockpots for Christmas and we started a new blog about our adventures in “crocking.” Check it out!

 

 

 

 

 

And a little parting shot…..Kitten loves this little spot. There is a heat vent under our hutch and she loves lying either inside or right in front of it. She is so funny!