It’s Mother’s day and I was feeling a little sad. My eldest daughter is in Canada studying for her 3rd and final year and I miss her.
I miss our early morning chats before she runs off to school, I miss our hours-long chats, I miss her being the only one who catches my jokes, and us laughing so hard we have tears running down our faces, (and her father and sister just shaking their heads because they think for sure this time we have totally lost it), I miss watching (well, her watching since I would fall asleep, and no, it has nothing to do with age!) Vampire Diaries.
I basically miss everything about her, but I will be seeing her soon, and I cannot wait. My daughter graduates.
So now you are asking what does this have to do with stuffed pasta shells, well a few things really, since it’s Mother’s Day, I thought I could use a pick-me-up-dish, so what better than something delicious and comforting? Plus my daughter loves ricotta.
This pasta dish is full of ricotta cheese. And the pasta combined with this to-die-for sauce makes me ask myself, what could be better than this? Oh yes! sharing it with my daughter, soon!
Next big question is what am I going to do when daughter number 2 decides she is flying the coup? Woe is me. Well there is always Ricky to keep me company and pasta. Buon Appetito!
Stuffed pasta shells
Ingredients
- 1 cup ricotta (if ricotta is really watery drain in sieve for an hour), 250 grams
- 4 1/2 cups fresh spinach 150 grams, before cooked
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese , 40 grams
- 2 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese for topping 10 grams
- 1 egg
- pinch of salt
- pinch of nutmeg
- 24 large pasta shells
- FOR THE SAUCE
- 2 1/2 cups tomato puree 680 gram bottle
- 1/2 in onion cut half
- 1 carrot quartered
- 2 tablespoons olive oil 26 grams
- 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 1/2 grams
- 2-3 leaves fresh basil
- 1 1/2 cups water 345 grams
- 1/4 cup whole cream 60 grams
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350° (180° celsius)
- Start the sauce first, in a medium pot add olive oil, tomato puree, onion, carrot, water, salt and basil leaves (cut in half), stir and cook on medium heat, half covered till thickened, for approximately 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, once thickened add the cream, stir to combine and cook for about 1 minute, turn off heat.
- Cook pasta shells in boiling salted water till al dente. Drain and set aside.
- While sauce is cooking, in boiling salted water (1 inch of water (2 1/2 centimeters) cook spinach till very tender, drain, and let cool, once the spinach is cool, squeeze out excess moisture, then finely chop the spinach. Place cut spinach in a medium size bowl, add ricotta, egg, pinch of salt and nutmeg and then the parmesan cheese, mix gently together.
- In a medium size baking pan spread 1 1/2 to 2 ladles of sauce on the bottom, fill shells with ricotta mixture (I used about a heaping teaspoon and a bit per shell) and place in pan,( the mixture fills 24 shells and they fit perfectly in the pan, I used a an 11x7 " (28x18 cent.)). Top the shells with sauce, but don't cover completely, then sprinkle with the 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese (or more or less, how desired), bake in pre-heated oven for 20 minutes. Serve immediately and Enjoy!
Ricki @ The Questionable Homesteader says
These look delicious can’t wait to try them in my kitchen. Thanks for sharing.
Rose says
Hi Ricki, thanks very much, let me know how you like them.
Monique Muro (@MoniqueMuro) says
This looks absolutely delicious! I need to come back here and snatch up some of these recipes. I’m just now starting to cook now that I’ve moved in with my boyfriend, and he LOVES cheese and pasta. Thanks for sharing your recipe! 🙂
Rose says
Hi Monique, thanks for dropping by, congrats on your move and let me know which recipes you decided to make.
Angela Gilmore says
These stuffed shells look great. I have been thinking about making stuffed shells a lot recently, and I’m not sure why I never made them before. My mom used to buy them frozen whenever we had big events, and I guess I just always thought of them as a store-bought food. I didn’t realize they were so easy! Pinning!
Angela Gilmore says
For some reason I can’t pin from your pin button. Is it on my end?
Rose says
Hi again Angela, it might be on your end, I haven’t heard or had any problem from here. Let me know though ok?
Rose says
Hi Angela, yes they are pretty easy and better than frozen, I must say. Thanks.
awesomelyoz says
Ugh this looks so delicious! Hope you get to see your daughter soon and totally bookmarking this recipe because it’s a must try! Have a great one Rose! -Iva
Rose says
Hi, thank you and yes it was quite good, let me know how you like it. And I sure did get to see my daughter, she is actually back home for a bit.:)
Cajun says
This looks tasty and surprisingly easy! Must try. Happy sits day!
Rose says
Hi Cajun, thank you very much, let me know if you try it!
Home Jobs by MOM (@HomeJobsbyMOM) says
These look yummy! I made a version of these with broccoli when I was little that just loved. I tried making them once but they weren’t up to par 🙁 Maybe these will be!
Rose says
Hi, sorry to hear that, try these and then let me know what you think. Thanks
nycjenny says
Stuffed shells are one of my favorite dishes, but I’ve never tried making it myself. You make it look very do-able! Maybe I’ll get brave and give it a try 🙂 Happy SITS Day!
Rose says
Hello, thanks very much, believe me they are really good and very easy, give it a try and let me know. BTW can you tell me where you found me on SITS because I can’t seem to find the blogger of the day tab. Thanks again Rosemary
nycjenny says
Of course! I followed a link through the daily email blast from them, but on the main site if you click “blog” under the header you’re the second story today: http://www.thesitsgirls.com/bloggers/italian-kitchen/
Rose says
Ok thanks a lot.
Ana Lynn Amelio says
I’ve been looking for a recipe on stuffed shells and I am so glad I found you through SITS! Bookmarking and sharing this and I know what I will be making this Saturday!
Rose says
Hi Ana Lynn, thanks very much, let me know how you like them.
Jessica @ Clover Valley Beef says
Looks wonderful! I will be trying it!
rose says
HI Jessica, thank you, when you give it a try, let me know how you liked it.
Erlene says
Oh my that looks wonderful and would pick me up. Thank you so much for sharing this dish on Tasty Tuesdays.
rose says
Hi Erlene, thanks, I love sharing on Tasty Tuesdays!
Elizabeth says
Looks so delicious!! I love pasta and ricotta! Must try this!
rose says
Hi Elizabeth, thank you, hope you do try it and let me know.