Not Your Mommas Stuffed Shells Food

NOT YOUR ORDINARY STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• Boil and drain pasta shells.
• Mix mashed potatoes, garlic salt, onion salt, dried minced onions and 4oz. of cheese.
• (You may use cold or heated mashed potatoes-I prefer heated).
• Using a small melon scoop, gourmet decorator or an Easy Accent decorator or even a small spoon, fill the shells with the potato mixture.
• Place stuffed shells in a greased 9x13 pan.
• Top shells with remaining cheese, green onions and potato topping, (I place 3 very small dabs of butter on top of the cheese before baking so they wont dry out).
• Bake at 350°F for 30-45 minutes or until ready.

THE BEST STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• For the marinara sauce: Heat the oil in a medium heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, if using, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic has softened but not browned, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat, add the basil and dried oregano, partially cover and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened, about 45 minutes.
• Remove the basil sprig. If the sauce is still too chunky, mash the larger chunks of tomato with a potato masher. Season with salt and pepper. Let cool.
• For the shells and filling: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the dried pasta shells cook, stirring occasionally, until softened slightly but not cooked. (The pasta shells should flexible enough to be filled but remain very al dente; they will continue to cook during baking.) Drain, then run under cold water to stop cooking. Drain well again.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Mix together the ricotta, mozzarella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, parsley and egg in a large bowl until well combined and uniform. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Transfer the filling to a large disposable pastry bag or large resealable plastic bag (or use a spoon for filling directly from the bowl).
• Spread 2 1/2 cups of the marinara sauce in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Snip off the end of the pastry bag and squeeze the filling into the shells one at a time. Arrange the shells open-side up in a tight single layer in the baking dish as you fill them. Top with the remaining marinara sauce. Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake the shells until the sauce is bubbling throughout and the filling is heated through, about 35 minutes.
• Remove the foil from the pan and continue to bake for 10 more minutes to reduce the sauce. Let cool slightly before serving. Top with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

HEALTHY STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Prepare pasta according to package directions but reduce cooking time by a few minutes; drain.
• In a large skillet over medium high heat, heat oil and then add mushrooms; cover and cook, stirring for 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and artichokes. Cover and simmer another 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• In a large bowl combine remaining ingredients, except for the mozzarella.
• Fill shells with mixture and divide among 8 individual baking dishes coated with Pam. Spoon sauce over each portion. Cover with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes.
• Sprinkle with cheese and bake uncovered for 10 minutes or until bubbly.

MOM'S STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• Cook shells according to directions, drain.
• Brown and drain sausage.
• Add sauce to meat and cook 15 minutes.
• Press out excess moisture from spinach and chop.
• Beat Eggs slightly. Add Spinach, 2 cheeses and seasonings. Mix till blended.
• Pour 1/2 C sauce mixture into a bottom of a 3 Quart dish (9 X12). Stuff each shell with the mixture and arrange shells in a single layer in the pan. Tuck in broken pieces. Pour sauce over all.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
• Can substitute Manicotti for shells if desired.

I HATE RICOTTA MEAT & 2 CHEESE STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• Boil water for pasta.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, brown ground beef, onion and garlic; drain and cool.
• Cook pasta in water, drain.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Meanwhile pasta is cooking, combine meat, mozzarella cheese, bread crumbs, egg and parsley; season with salt and pepper.
• Mix spaghetti sauce with tomato sauce; cover bottom of a 13x9 casserole dish with 1/4 of the sauce.
• Stuff cooked, drained shells with the meat mixture and place on top of sauce in dish in a row.
• Add red wine to remaining sauce and mix well; cover shells with sauce and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
• Bake in oven for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly and browned.