Shells With Tomatoe And Basil Food

SHELLS WITH TOMATO & BASIL

Steps:

• Prepare Dinner as directed on package.
• Add remaining ingredients; cook until heated through, stirring occasionally.

BAKED SHELLS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium heat. Salt the water, add the shells and cook for 2 to 3 minutes less than the package directions. Heads up: Remove and reserve 1 cup of cooking water just before draining.
• Meanwhile, heat a medium-sized pot or high-sided skillet over medium heat with the extra-virgin olive oil. Add the onions and garlic and saute for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the spinach, pulling it apart as you add it, and season with a little freshly grated nutmeg and salt, and pepper, to taste. When the spinach mixture is warmed through, transfer it to a small dish and reserve. Return the pot to the heat, add the butter and let it melt. Stir in the tomatoes and break them up with a spoon. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, add the basil leaves, and cook to thicken the sauce, about 7 to 8 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Drain the pasta and return it to the hot pot. To the pasta, add the spinach, reserved pasta cooking water, ricotta cheese, and half of the Parmigiano-Reggiano. Adjust the salt and pepper, to taste, and transfer it to a baking dish. Top the pasta mixture with the tomato sauce, mozzarella, and remaining Parmigiano. Bake until the cheeses are melted and bubbly, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the shells from the oven and serve.

TUNA-STUFFED SHELLS WITH TOMATO-BASIL VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Cook pasta shells as directed on package.
• While pasta is cooking, prepare Tomato-Basil Vinaigrette.
• Mix mayonnaise, basil and salt in medium bowl. Stir in tuna, carrot, zucchini and onion until evenly mixed. Drain pasta. Rincse with cold water; drawin. Fill each pasta shell with 1 rounded tablespoon tuna mixture.
• Line serving platter with lettuce leaves. Arrange shells on lettuce. Serve with tomato basil vinaigrette.

BASIL STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• Mix the beaten eggs with the ricotta, parmesan and basil.
• Add seasonings and adjust to taste.
• Cook large pasta shells in 6 quarts boiling water till just tender. Drain and rinse in cold water.
• Stuff each shell with about 3 tbsp of filling and place in a casserole dish.
• Top with tomato sauce.
• Bake in a preheated 375° oven for about 25 minutes.

BASIL PASTA SHELLS

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute onions in oil until tender. Stir in the tomatoes, bacon, basil and pepper; cook and stir until tomatoes are softened. Rinse and drain pasta; stir into tomato mixture. Add half of the cheese. , Transfer to a 1-1/2-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 8-10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

SHELLS WITH TOMATO & BASIL

Steps:

• Prepare dinner as directed on package.
• Add remainin ingredients; cook until heated through, stirring occasionally.

CHICKEN STUFFED SHELLS WITH TOMATO CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook shells according to package directions. Take 6 minutes off of cooking time. Drain well, cool under cold running water, and toss with a minimal amount of olive oil (or cooking spray) to prevent sticking.
• Meanwhile, season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Cut into small pieces. Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels.
• In same skillet, cook garlic, onion, carrot, celery and red pepper flakes. Cook 5 minutes. Add spinach, and cook 10 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper.
• Combine chicken and spinach mixture. purée in a food processor or blender. (If you have a small machine, do this in batches.).
• In a large bowl, combine ricotta, egg, Romano, parsley and basil. Season with salt and pepper and mix well. Add chicken purée and combine very well. Chill for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare sauce. In a large stockpot, heat 3 tbsp olive oil on medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic and carrot, and sauté until onion begins to brown. Add tomatoes and purée. Stir well. Add wine and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, add parsley and basil to sauce, and cook 15 minutes more. Working in batches, purée sauce in blender; return to same pot. (If you have a hand blender, you can use it right in the pot). Add cream and simmer 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a large baking pan well with cooking spray. Place a thin layer of sauce in bottom of baking pan.
• Stuff shells with chicken mixture. (I find a pastry bag with no tip is ideal for this. If you don't have one, try a demitasse spoon.) Mixture should come to top of shells.
• Place shells in baking pan in a single layer. When all shells are filled, cover with sauce. Top with grated provolone, and parsley.
• Bake for 20 minutes. Cheese should be golden and sauce should be bubbly. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.
• Note:.
• You can substitute half-and-half, or evaporated skim milk for the cream.
• The cream sauce can be made up to 2 days ahead.
• The entire dish can be made ahead of time and frozen (either baked or unbaked). Cover top with plastic wrap then aluminum foil. If unbaked: remove plastic wrap, and re-wrap with foil. Place in a low oven (250 degrees F.) and bake until a knife is easily inserted. Then raise heat to 350 degrees F. and bake as above. If baked: remove plastic wrap and rewrap with foil. Bake at 350 degrees F. until hot.

SHELLS WITH BALSAMIC TOMATOES & MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Cook the pasta following pack instructions. Drain, reserving a few tablespoons of water in the pan. Return pasta to the pan over a medium heat and add the tomatoes, oil and balsamic vinegar.
• Cook for 1-2 mins, then season and stir through mozzarella and basil. Serve with grated parmesan.