Stuffed Shells
I would love to tell you that this dish went over with great fanfare and celebration, but it did not because the husband does not like ricotta or spinach. But I do, and if this is your bag (baby) you’ll like it too. I was eating the filling out of the bowl and it was wonderful all by itself. I’m trying to think of a way to preserve that flavor - perhaps just mixing some pasta with ricotta cheese instead of adding marinara and baking. Anyway, this one certainly is one for presentation - a bunch of stuffed shells looks impressive but it took just under 5 minutes to fill the suckers.
Unrelated to this dinner, a commenter (Steve) asked what I normally eat for lunch. To be honest, I typically go for leftovers. I got my fill of eating sandwiches as a student, and I can’t stand to eat another PBJ for lunch (unless I’m at home and there is marmalade.) I find lunch meat to be expensive (and salty) and bread to go moldy, and I don’t really like soup all that much. So leftovers is it. With just two of us eating, I normally have enough to last me until the next day. Some things don’t make it (pizza bread, well, any type of pizza) but most pasta things or rice things will get me through. I do have some good spreads I’ll share one day, but there’s your lunch answer!
Ingredients:
- 1 package jumbo shells, cooked according to package directions
- 1 jar spaghetti sauce (or go crazy and make your own) - you only need half a jar
- 10 oz. ricotta
- 2 c. shredded mozzarella
- 1/2 c. grated Parmesan
- 1 egg
- 10 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed
- pinch nutmeg
Squeeze your spinach to drain it. (I typed train. “C’mere spinach! Good boy!”) Mix with ricotta, egg, pinch of nutmeg, Parmesan,, and 1 c. mozzarella. Fill shells with about 2 Tbs of mixture each. (Maybe a little more, if you can cram it in there without ripping them.) Arrange in a casserole dish, and cover with 1/2 jar sauce and remaining mozzarella. Bake at 350 for half an hour. (Covered for the first 20 minutes.) I was going to make a salad and pretend this could be healthy, but we had garlic bread instead because it is delicious.