Stuffed Shells

One of my favorite, favorite, favorite Italian pasta dishes is stuffed shells. They're adorable little packages of goodness~ cheesie goodness. I'm not sure why I do not make them more often but when I do I am so happy. And I like to stick to traditional cheese, only because that makes me happy too.

And I am jumping for joy because the tiny basil seeds my tot & I planted in April? Well, it sprouted so big, I will have fresh basil all winter long. Hmmm, maybe my thumb is a teeny bit green, hmmm  :) Or Gabriel's is, more like it!

Stuffed Shells

• 1 package of x-large Shell Pasta
• 1 (16-ounce) container ricotta cheese (I used Skim, cannot tell the difference here)
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 1 egg, whisked
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp fresh basil, chiffonade
• S & P
• 3+ cups Tomato Sauce

Cook the pasta shells just pre-al dente. (The shells will finish cooking later in the oven & you do not want mush!) Cool off the pasta so that you can pick each up by hand. (Really, listen to me here- it is hot!!! Take it from someone who yelled ouch a couple of times tonight.)

Mix 1 cup mozzarella & the other 2 cheeses, egg, basil & S&P together in a medium bowl. Preheat the oven to 375.

Spray a rectangular 13X9" baking dish with olive oil spray.

Evenly layer the bottom of the baking dish with one cup of the sauce. Then, one-by-one, take a cooled & cooked shell carefully in one hand &
using a small spoon, spoon the cheese mixture into the shell, then place the filled pasta into the sauce. Continue with all of the shells, lining them side-by-side.
Cover all of the stuffed shells with the remaining 2 cups of prepared sauce. Sprinkle the 2nd cup of shredded mozzarella evenly over the prepped shells.

Bake for 30 minutes until the cheese is browned & sauce is bubbling. Serve topped with some fresh basil & grated parmesan.

Mangia & enjoy &...

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<3 Lishie

Come to the NYU Bookstore, 726 Broadway, NYC, NY 10003 on 10/6/11 @11a.m. for a free reading of Llama Llama Red Pajama to help break Jumpstart's Read for the Record