Stuffed Shells

This is one of the first meals I learned to cook by myself.  It has certainly evolved a little over the years, but the  simplicity and comfort of this meal easily makes it one of my favorites.

 Brown 1/2 pound lean ground beef and 1/2 pound ground Italian sausage.  Drain and set aside.

 Mix together 8 oz of cottage cheese, 8 oz of ricotta cheese, 1 teaspoon garlic salt, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper.  Give it a good stir.

 After the browned meat has drained well, mix it into the cheese mixture.

 Stuff cooked shells with meat and cheese mixture.

 Top each shell with one teaspoon of sauce of your choice (I made Fire Roasted Marinara....recipe below)

 Top with shredded cheese.  Bake at 350° for 25 minutes.

So yummy!

What you'll need:

For the Shells and Stuffing:

10 Jumbo Pasta Shells (prepared al dente according to package directions)

1/2 lb Lean Ground Beef

1/2 lb Ground Italian Sausage

8 oz. Ricotta Cheese

8 oz. Cottage Cheese (small curd)
1/2 cup Shredded Italian Cheese Blend

1 teaspoon Garlic Salt

1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

For the Fire Roasted Marinara Sauce:

1 14.5 oz can of Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes

1 tablespoon garlic (minced)

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Preheat oven to 350°. 

1.  Prepare 10 Jumbo Pasta Shells according to package directions.  Drain and set aside.

2.  Brown 1/2 lb lean ground beef and 1/2 lb ground Italian sausage.  Drain and set aside.

3.  In a large bowl, mix together ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, garlic salt, Italian seasoning, and pepper.  Stir well to combine.

4.  Add drained meat mixture to the cheese mixture and mix well.

5.  Use a teaspoon to stuff shells with meat and cheese mixture.  Do not overfill or the shells will split.

6.  Place stuffed shells in an 8x8 baking dish.

7.  Top each shell with 1 teaspoon of pasta sauce.

8.  Top with Shredded Italian Cheese Blend.

For the Fire Roasted Marinara:

In a large saucepan, combine Fire Roasted Tomatoes, garlic, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.  Let simmer for 25-30 minutes. 

Bake for 25 minutes at 350° or until cheese is melted.

~~This post is linked up to Savannah's Savory Bites