Chicken and Potatoes in one Pan

Posted on January 24, 2017 | 1 comment

This is one of those awesome one pan meals which I absolutely love to make. I am still cooking my way through Jessica Seinfeld’s ” Can’t Cookbook” even though I can cook. I happen to be a huge fan of one pot meals and I love how easy it is to clean up afterwards. The chicken crisped up beautifully and the potatoes were out of this world. The coriander flavor is very strong and is very distinct. If you know ahead of time that you’re not a fan I guess this one isn’t for you although I would maybe try it with a rub of spices like paprika, garlic powder and salt and pepper. The cooking method is important here, you’ll need a large oven-proof skillet. Give this one a try you won’t be sorry. It tasted as good as it looks. Enjoy and thanks to Jessica Seinfeld for another great recipe.

www.doitdelicious.com

The Can’t Cook Book by Jessica Seinfeld

Ingredients:

1 yellow onion sliced into thin slices

1/2 cup water

app. 5 medium-sized Yukon Gold or Russet Potatoes ( 1 1/4 lbs. app. )

1 Tablespoon olive oil

2 Tablespoons fresh Rosemary Leaves ( I used about 3 sprigs)

1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt

3/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

4 bone-in , skin-on chicken thighs (small ones) app. 1 1/4- 1 1/2 lbs.

4 chicken drumsticks (app. 1 lb.)

1 Tablespoon ground coriander

Directions:

Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Get out a large oven-proof skillet.

Thinly slice the onion and scatter over the bottom of skillet. I sprayed with cooking spray first as I always do. Add the water over the onions. Wash but don’t peel potatoes and slice them into 1/4″ rounds. Lay the potato slices right over the onions, over-lapping as necessary. Drizzle with the olive oil. Wash and dry the rosemary sprigs and sprinkle over the potatoes , just the leaves which you’ll pull from the rosemary sprigs. Sprinkle 1 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. of pepper as well.

I wash the chicken and pat it dry with paper towels. In a small bowl you will combine the coriander and the remaining 1/2 tsp. of Salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Using your hands rub the spices all over the chicken on both sides. Lay the chicken , skin side up, over the potatoes. Remember to always wash your hands after handling raw chicken and before touching any other foods you may come in contact with.

Roast until the chicken is cooked through, you can always cut into a piece to make sure it’s no longer pink. The potatoes should be tender after about an hour. These were some delicious potatoes! Perfection on a plate.

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Posted in chicken

Tagged Chicken, chicken and potatoes in one pan, Potatoes and chicken, skillet roasted chicken and potatoes

White Bean Chili

Posted on January 21, 2017 | Leave a comment

Original post was back in the winter of ’13. For those of you who are new to the blog or missed it, I am re-posting the recipe. It is delicious and the inspiration comes from Bonnie’s on Aspen Mountain. It is probably my most favorite thing to eat at Bonnies , so if you ever find yourself out here skiing go to Bonnies and get the White Bean Chili with Chips of course!

Perfect recipe for Superbowl! I like to make it a day or two ahead and let the flavors all come together but if you can’t it’s fine to make the day you’re eating it. You can use your slow cooker and you will probably have to add some more liquid, or use a Le Creuset type of pot which is deep enough to hold all the ingredients. You can change up recipe and use ingredients which you prefer, it’s a very “flexible” type of recipe.

*when I use the slow cooker I brown meat and veggies first on the stovetop

*you can double up on this recipe by adding ingredients, I will usually increase the meat to 2 lbs. and maybe a little more diced tomatoes, spices, and a little more onion and vegetable. This is a very flexible recipe.

Ingredients:

1-2 lb. Ground dark meat turkey , I prefer the dark meat turkey flavor but use whatever you’d like, I stretch recipe by adding an extra pound of meat here (2 lbs.) you will have to increase liquids though —

3 Tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 large white onions, chopped

1 green pepper , chopped( I use the green for color here, but feel free to change it to any color pepper you prefer)

1 yellow pepper, chopped (same goes for this pepper)

1 Tablespoon chopped garlic ( about 1 large clove or 2 small)

3 15 ounce cans of White Northern Beans, or any white bean you like. Drained.

7 oz. salsa or picante sauce

1 8 ounce can of diced green chiles. ( I used 2 cans of 4 oz. hot green chiles)

1 8 ounce can of whole kernel corn

1 lb. can diced tomatoes ( drained)

1 Tbsp. cumin

1 Tbsp. oregano ( I love to use Mexican oregano) but no worries if you can’t find it

Kosher Salt to Taste– keep tasting , I added a fair amount of salt. Add at your own discretion.

Freshly ground black pepper, but if you have it you can use white pepper !

3-4 cups chicken or vegetable stock –start out with 3 and if it is too thick you can always add more liquid.

12 oz. Sour Cream–I use light not fat free. Strain the sour cream to get rid of the little bit of liquid. You can also use yogurt if you like. Add this ingredient last and blend it in well.

Shredded Cheese ( Mexican Style, Jalapeno or Cheddar. This is a topping so I just put it out in a bowl alongside some fresh chopped jalapeno. Tortilla chips on the side as well.

Directions:

In a large stockpot or slow cooker ( I use my Le Creuset pot) melt the butter on medium heat. Add onion, peppers and garlic until softened. I add the garlic and some kosher salt here. Add in the 2 lbs. of dark meat turkey and brown that up as well.

Puree 1 1/2 cans of the drained white beans. ( Food Processor here) until beans are smooth and then I add them to the pot.

Add the rest of the drained beans, along with the salsa, chiles, corn, tomatoes and spices ( plus anything else you may want to add) Cook for a few more minutes on a low heat until all of the ingredients are blended.

Add the stock and bring to a boil. I then lower the heat and simmer for about an hour on the stove top.

Before you’re ready to serve it, add the sour cream and blend it in while chili is simmering.

I place the shredded cheese, extra sour cream, chips, fresh cut up jalapenos, salsa and guacamole in bowls on the side so everyone can make their chili their way.

Enoy!!!

I know there are a lot of ingredients but this is so easy you can make it in the morning and it sit all day in the fridge. You may need to add more liquid when you go to serve it. This freezes really well also.

Salmon with a Mustard Glaze

Posted on January 18, 2017 | Leave a comment

this is the same recipe with sliced lemons on top also a delicious variation

Here is another delicious Salmon recipe and so super easy. This is a light easy to make dinner perfect Spring Time Meal. I made this for dinner last night and it was ready in no time and tasted truly delicious.It is light and easy, it doesn’t get much easier than this. The whole recipe took less than 1/2 hour to prep and cook! Depending on how thick your salmon is it could take no more than 10 minutes to fully cook right in the oven. Very few ingredients and a perfect dinner casual enough for just you and your family and can be bumped up to serve to guests. This is a winner.Last night I served with potatoes and a salad. Almost any side dish will do alongside this.

Roasted Brussels on another night were also perfect.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1 heaping Tablespoon Dijon Mustard

1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice (app. 1 average size lemon)

Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper ( about 1/4 tsp. of each)

4 pieces Salmon fillets ( app. 6 oz. each) with skin on

*sprinkle a little fresh thyme if you’d like!!!

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray to facilitate removal of fish not to mention clean-up.

In a small bowl, mix together olive oil, mustard, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon each kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. I used a mini whisk and it came together beautifully.

Place Salmon, skin side down in a baking dish , and spoon mustard glaze over each piece of fish. Bake until salmon is just cooked through and no longer red, 6 – 10 minutes depending on the thickness of your fillet. I added a sprinkle of some fresh thyme right before I cooked and it added some more delicious flavor, this is totally optional.

Voila! done and enjoy. I served this time with a delicious lentil side dish.

Veggie Soup with Rotisserie Chicken – Perfect Winter Soup

Posted on January 14, 2017 | 1 comment

This is a soup, and a little like a stew, and I think Rachael Ray calls it a stoup, because it’s a little bit stew and a little bit soup. I combined a lot of different recipes for this one, and used a lot of ingredients from the pantry as well. I served alongside a toasted baguette with goat cheese. A perfect ending to a chilly day and just in time for soup season! And did I say filling? it is a meal in itself. There are a lot of ingredients, but it really did make this soup wonderful. I enjoyed the prep, it’s very therapeutic and it’s not difficult at all. I find it is very very important to read through a whole recipe before starting to cook, because you don’t want any surprises 1/2 way through and I always set out all of my ingredients before I start cooking, don’t want to be running around looking for an ingredient. You can also substitute wherever you’d like in this recipe using ingredients you would prefer. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 whole Rotisserie Chicken ( skin and bones removed and shred meat) (store bought is perfect here) unless you are in the mood to roast a chicken.

Olive Oil

1 4 oz. package of diced pancetta– I thought it added a delightful layer of deliciousness but not if you are opposed to using it

1 medium yellow onion ( diced)

3 carrots , peeled and diced

3 stalks of celery , diced

2 1/2 cups of diced peeled butternut squash

4 cloves garlic minced

2 teaspoons fresh thyme

1 28 oz. can chopped tomatoes

1 15oz. can cannellini beans , drained and rinsed

1/2 cup dry white wine

baby spinach leaves ( I only used a little bit, but feel free to use whole 8 ounces) Kale would also work beautifully here

1 cup small pasta , like ditalini. I used small elbows because that is what I had on hand.

2 Tablespoons Pesto , I happen to have some frozen, but buy the store bought one if you don’t happen to have this on hand.

1 baguette or crusty type bread

6 cups of chicken broth, hold on to the extra 2 cups because you may need them

2 bay leaves

Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper

*freshly grated Parmesan Cheese ( optional) for serving

Directions:

Heat 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil in a large heavy pot ( Le Creuset) or any Dutch type Oven. Add the pancetta and cook for about 6 – 8 minutes over medium low heat, stirring occasionally , until lightly browned. Add the onions, carrots, celery, squash, garlic and thyme, and cook over medium heat. I cooked for about 12 minutes till everything started to break down and soften.

Add the can of tomatoes, 6 cups of the chicken stock, bay leaves, I added 2 teaspoons of Kosher Salt and about 1 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. You can taste later and add if you need more. Bring to a boil, and then simmer for app. 45 minutes to an hour.

I cooked pasta separately till al dente.

Discard bay leaves, add pasta , beans and shredded chicken to soup. Heat through. Soup should be quite thick and if it’s too thick add some more chicken stock or some water. Just before serving if you’re using it add in the spinach a little at a time, I used very little because Joel really doesn’t care for it, use as much as you’d like, keep stirring. Stir in the white wine and pesto. Check for salt and pepper.

Serve in nice large shallow bowls, with bread on the side. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese if you’d like.

I sliced a baguette on the diagonal and brushed olive oil on both sides, Baked in the oven at 425 degrees, turning bread once , total cooking time about 8 minutes, took bread out and spread some goat cheese on each slice and put back in the oven for about 4 minutes. Delicious!

1 Comment

Posted in soup

Tagged Goat Cheese Baguettes, Rotisserie Chicken in Soup, Vegetable Soup with Rotisserie Chicken, Winter Veggie Soup with Chicken

Sheet Pan Chicken –Meditteranean Style-String Beans and Potatoes

Posted on January 9, 2017 | 3 comments

I love one pan and one pot dinners! Just amazing! This is an easy no-fuss meal cooked in the oven on one sheet with a marinade that has a distinct Meditteranean flavor from the lemon juice, olive oil and oregano. Use chicken thighs or legs , I prefer dark meat for this but if you insist on using white meat –go ahead. Some green beans and potatoes make this a one pan staple. Delicious and Nutritious. Did I mention super easy to clean up? It was the Golden Globes so I wanted to eat and watch without a big mess to clean up. You’ll need a rimmed baking sheet for this recipe.

Enjoy! this is for 2 +people but you can double for 4. It will probably feed 2+ but depends on your people. This is what I did for the 2 of us. We ate the whole thing! no leftovers! If you are making for a larger crowd (4 or more) either use a very large baking sheet or 2 baking sheets .

Ingredients:

1/2 lb. baby red potatoes- I quartered them but if they are very small you can cut in 1/2

1/2 lb. green beans , trimmed

2 Tbsp. olive oil plus for marinade

Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper, I salt chicken liberally and potatoes because they tend to be bland –see notes below on salt and pepper

*2 Tbsp. Chopped Fresh Parsley – totally optional along with some slices of fresh lemon for beautiful presentation

Marinade for the Chicken- Marinate for about an hour

app. 1 package of chicken thighs– bone in , skin on . When I say 1 package it is usually a little under 2 lbs ( 6 smallish thighs) which is more than enough for 2 people. Usually about 6 chicken thighs in a package depending on the size of thighs.

1/4 cup olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

Juice of 1 lemon- I used juicer because I wanted to make sure I got every drop

1 Tbsp. Red Wine Vinegar

1 Tbsp. dried oregano

Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper , to taste–I used 1/2 tsp. kosher salt and about 10 grinds on the pepper mill for the marinade

In a large Ziploc Bag, combine chicken, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, red wine vinegar and oregano; season with app. 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds (10-12) of freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Marinate for at least an hour, turning the bag occasionally. Remove the chicken from the marinade by draining it, discard the excess marinade.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly spray a large size baking sheet with cooking spray.

Place potatoes and green beans in a single layer onto the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Top with chicken in a single layer. Salt is an important component here–I sprinkled a light amount over chicken and potatoes and string beans –probably another 1/2 teaspoon and a few grinds of the pepper mill

Place into the oven and roast until the chicken is completely cooked through, should register 165 degrees with a meat thermometer after about 1/2 hour . After I check for readiness I place under the broiler for a few minutes, till skin is golden brown and a little charred ( but not too charred) watch chicken for signs of burning.

Serve immediately, you can garnish with lemon slices and parsley for a beautiful presentation!

Enjoy

3 Comments

Posted in one pot meals, Sheet Pan Meals, Uncategorized

Tagged sheet pan meals;chicken on a sheet pan;chicken meditteranean style;chicken thighs with veggies and potatoes

Pasta e Fagioli ( Pasta and Bean Soup)

Posted on January 7, 2017 | Leave a comment

I have been making this soup forever, This is really just a tomato base soup with beans and pasta. How bad can that be? unless you hate beans and pasta that is. I usually have ingredients in the pantry and it is a wonderful warm experience, with a nice salad this is a perfect meal. I used to only make this with dry beans but in the name of time and taste I used canned beans and have now always made this with canned. I must admit this makes it a whole lot easier and honestly no one knows the difference! It is a wonderful hearty soup halfway between a soup and a pasta no matter how you do the beans!

Enjoy this amazingly delicious comforting soup and did I mention super easy????

Ingredients:

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

2 – 3 tablespoons olive oil

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 28 oz. can chopped tomatoes ( San Marzano)

10 – 12 fresh basil leaves

red pepper flakes

handful of italian parsley, chopped

2 cans rinsed and drained Cannellini Beans

5 cups water or chicken broth or vegetable broth to keep it vegetarian — water works just fine but you’ll have to check your salt and pepper if using broth especially boxed broth which contains salt. Your call– super easy recipe.

app. 1 cup pasta, elbows, tubetti, ditalini, or broken spaghetti

Kosher Salt — to taste

Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Directions:

In a large , heavy stockpot ( Le Creuset) saute onion in olive oil. When onion is golden and transparent, add garlic. Cook for a few more minutes. Add tomatoes and herbs. Add some kosher salt about 1/2 Tablespoon and some grinds of the pepper mill now and you’ll be tasting all along for salt and pepper

Add the beans and the 5 cups of water and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes – until the beans begin to break down and the soup begins to thicken. Lower heat to a slow simmer, as low as you can. Stir frequently to prevent it from sticking and burning bottom of the pot. Taste for salt and pepper again. I always like it to simmer for a long time, an hour would probably do it, but if I have the time I let it sit for as long as I can. Sometimes after it’s been simmering for a while , I turn off the heat and right before serving just bring to a boil and add pasta. Just be careful not to let it burn, stir frequently . If you need more liquid add water a little at a time, I showed a picture of my pot filler which is the greatest thing to have in a kitchen, makes it super easy to fill a pot.

Right before you’re ready to serve bring to a low boil and add the pasta and cook until pasta is al dente, about 5 – 10 minutes depending on type of pasta you’re using. I used ditalini.

Serve immediately in large soup bowls.

Guests can drizzle some good olive oil and grate some Parmesan Cheese over. Should serve 8 – 10 depending on appetites. I froze remainder for another time.

–Set it and Forget it Chicken Taco Chili

Posted on January 5, 2017 | 3 comments

This is a very easy recipe and will cook in the slow cooker on high in 6 hours! So set it and forget it. This is a re-blog from last October so if you missed it you get another shot at it and if you already made this recipe here you go again. If you’re looking for something easy to make this week that is also delicious — here you go.

No muss No Fuss come tonite, all the heavy lifting will be done by noon. My kind of cooking.

Slow cookers make for perfect cooking all year round. Nothing better than setting it and forgetting it! Making life easier and less clean up after dinner. I happened to have a package of Taco Seasoning Mix in the house so I used it along with cumin and chili powder. I used dark meat and white meat chicken, you can use whichever chicken you’d like. Just set it and forget it and come home to this delicious meal of chicken . If you don’t own a slow cooker this may be a good time to buy one!

Follow me on Instagram @cookingwithcandi I’ll be looking for you!

Ingredients:

1 small yellow onion , chopped

1 15 oz. can black beans, drained-you don’t have to rinse the organic beans. If you already have them in the house and they’re not organic just rinse them with water and drain.

1 15 oz. can red kidney beans, drained -you don’t have to rinse the organic beans–same instructions as above

1 8 oz. can tomato sauce

10 oz. package frozen corn kernels

2 10 oz. cans diced tomatoes with chilies –available in the Mexican Food aisle in the supermarket

4 oz. can chopped green chili peppers, chopped–also available in the Mexican Food aisle

1 packet Taco Seasoning- *if you don’t like using Taco Seasoning see note below

1 tbsp. cumin

1/2-1 Tbsp. chili powder

Kosher Salt to taste–if using the package of Taco Seasoning you may not need extra salt , wait till 6 hours of cooking are over and taste for salt . I sprinkled a little bit at the end of seasoning to taste.

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts and I added 6 small skinless , boneless chicken thighs and if you cannot find boneless don’t worry because the meat will fall off the bones and you can remove all the bones from the chili before serving.

I don’t know the nutrition information but I have to believe that this is a fairly low-fat , low caloric way to go. I added the dark meat so maybe not as light as you can make it. Enjoy!

*handful of fresh cilantro – chopped if you would like

Directions:

Combine drained beans, onion, chili peppers, corn , tomato sauce, diced tomato, cumin, chili powder and taco seasoning in a slow cooker and mix well.

Nestle the chicken in to completely cover and cook either on Low for 8-10 hours or on High for 4-6 hours. I did it on high for 6 hours.

App. 1/2 hour before the cooking was over I thought I would shred the chicken, when I opened the slow cooker and started to stir the chicken it all just fell apart on its own!!! This was so amazing how I didn’t even have to do that. I guess it cooked so long that it just fell apart! This was just perfect and tasted so delicious! If that is not your experience and you only cook for 4 hours you may want to shred the chicken yourself about 1/2 hour before finished. But mine really did shred itself as I stirred it with a wooden spoon.

Top with fresh cilantro and your favorite chili toppings! I also serve with soft corn tortillas. You can use crunchy taco shells or whatever you’d like, this is totally optional. And some avocado never hurt anyone!

Yum!!!

*to make your own seasoning follow this

1 1/2 Tbsp. Cumin

1 1/2 Tbsp. Chili Powder

1/4 tsp. Garlic Powder

1/4 tsp. Onion Powder

1/4 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 tsp. paprika

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

3 Comments

Posted in chicken, chili, slow cooker

Tagged chili in the slow cooker, cinco de mayo, mexican food, Slow Cooker, slow cooker chicken taco chili

Orzo and Lamb Shanks – Winter Comfort Food

Posted on January 3, 2017 | 1 comment

I had just purchased Ina Garten’s new “Foolproof” cookbook back in 2013 and this amazingly delicious recipe was in there. I have to admit, I didn’t care for the way the lamb shanks looked raw but luckily I got past this. It was Oscar night 2013 and I couldn’t wait to sit down and watch. My idea of an Oscar party is to eat dinner at home and be in my pj’s by the time they start. Being out in Colorado means they start red carpet at 3, so dvr was set and I got to work on dinner. I like to watch the Oscars themselves live, so I had my work cut out for me. I also like watching alone, with texting and tweeting its like you are never alone anyway. It was a perfectly cold winter night, and Joel and I both love braised meats. This was pretty easy to pull together and I did it in under an hour, put in the oven and 2 hours later we were ready to eat this delicious meal. I must say the orzo was spectacular, and I would make this without meat as well.

This was my original post and then this New Years Eve it was on the menu again! We shared New Years Eve with our dear friends and spent the afternoon shopping and cooking! Now that’s my kind of meal. It takes a little work but totally worth the effort .I put up some pics of this as well.

Ingredients:

*this recipe serves 4, I cut it in 1/2 for Joel and I, but I made the 2 cups of orzo which we ate the next night as well.

1 cup all-purpose flour

Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper

4 lamb shanks ( app. 1 to 1 1/2 lbs. each)

Grapeseed oil

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 cups chopped yellow onions

2 cups diced carrots ( app. 4 – 5 carrots)

3 stalks diced celery ( medium diced)

1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary leaves

3 large garlic cloves, minced

1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes , including the juice

2 cups beef broth

1 1/2 cups dry white wine, plus 3 tablespoons

2 bay leaves

2 cups orzo

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Combine the flour, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper in a bowl and dredge the lamb shanks in it, shaking off any excess flour. In a large Dutch oven such as Le Creuset , heat 3 tablespoons grapeseed oil over medium -high heat . Add lamb shanks and cook for about 10 minutes, till browned on all sides, using tongs let them brown on all sides, be careful not to burn oil. Transfer the shanks to a plate. Don’t crowd the shanks, so do 2 at a time, you may need to add a little grapeseed oil for the second time.

Let pot cool a little and wipe Dutch oven with a paper towel, removing all remnants of old oil. Add the olive oil and heat over medium to medium high heat. Add the onions, carrots, celery, rosemary and cook for about 10 minutes until all veggies are tender. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the can of tomatoes, beef broth, wine, 3 teaspoons kosher salt and 2 teaspoons pepper. Add the lamb shanks, try and submerge them as much as possible in the liquid. Put in the bay leaves and bring to a simmer on the stovetop. Once it is simmering, cover the pot and place in the oven for 2 hours, I turned the shanks around after the first hour.

After 2 hours, add the orzo, stir it in and return the lamb shanks to the oven for about 20 minutes, until orzo is fully cooked and the lamb shanks are very tender. Discard the bay leaves, stir in 3 tablespoons of white wine, and taste for seasonings. Mine didn’t need any more seasoning, I also cut original salt in the recipe to 3 teaspoons instead of 4 and it was perfect. You can always add additional salt at the end.

Serve hot and enjoy!

1 Comment

Posted in meat

Tagged Lamb Shanks, Lamb Shanks and Orzo, Orzo with Lamb Shanks

Saucy Stuffed Shells – Baked and Meatless

Posted on December 28, 2016 | 1 comment

OK you must be thinking is she kidding Stuffed Shells? gotta be the most fattening food to eat , and it probably is outside of lasagna, baked ziti and the like. Super delicious and sometimes you just hafta roll with it. I wanted a crowd pleaser, vegetarian and something that can easily be made ahead and frozen. This is a most perfect dish for Christmas or any other time you’re looking for a delicious dish to satisfy a lot of people. My mind wanders to yummy, gooey food with a lot of cheese because who doesn’t love a lot of cheese. Ah , yes Stuffed Shells. I wouldn’t cook like this all the time, but once every blue moon no one is getting hurt, right? I served with a salad , no need for bread and butter here. Homemade Maple Syrup Salad Dressing ( see on blog) and it was really pretty awesome. Took a few hours to prepare, mostly because I made my own sauce ( Sunday night sauce) but feel free to use a jar of prepared sauce if you must. This is a perfect meal to make ahead of time, and just pop into oven. This also is a perfect side dish alongside a meat or fish dish.

Of course if you love it with meat you can make a meat sauce and follow same directions.

Ingredients:

1 box Jumbo Shells ( you won’t use all but a lot of them break, etc.)

1 lb. Ricotta ( I used Part Skim)

1 lb. Mozzarella Shredded ( I used Part Skim) if you can obtain fresh mozzarella and shred it that would make it even better! whatever works for you

1 cup grated Parmesan ( any kind you like)

1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley

Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper

*marinara sauce or any red sauce I made my own and use my own recipe. If buying sauce and there are some delicious good sauces out there, you’ll need at least 1 jar and maybe a 1 1/2 jars. I make a big batch of sauce and freeze the remainder. It’s nice to have a little extra sauce in case you need it when you re-heat the stuffed shells.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Prepare Pasta , cook for between 12 and 15 minutes, you’ll want them soft but not undercooked at the center. Drain pasta and cool for easy handling.

Combine ricotta, 1/2 of the mozzarella, 1/2 of the Parmesan, parsley and egg in a bowl. Taste for Salt and Pepper.

When shells have cooled down, fill them with rounded spoonfuls of cheese mixture and arrange them seam side down in casserole dish. I used a 9 x 13 Pyrex. Top Shells with remaining sauce and remaining mozzarella and grated cheese. Place shells in very hot oven . You can turn on broiler for last few minutes , it should be slightly browned and bubbly. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.

Delicious!

1 Comment

Posted in pasta

Tagged baked pasta, Saucy Stuffed Shells, Stuffed Baked Meatless Pasta, Stuffed Baked Shells, Stuffed Pasta Shells

Cooking with Candi

Chicken and Potatoes in one Pan

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Salmon with a Mustard Glaze

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Sheet Pan Chicken –Meditteranean Style-String Beans and Potatoes

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Pasta e Fagioli ( Pasta and Bean Soup)

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–Set it and Forget it Chicken Taco Chili

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*to make your own seasoning follow this

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