Italian Stuffed Shells with Chicken and Spinach

A great holiday or Sunday special meal!




If you don't want to make homemade pasta but still want a great meal using chicken this filling is a must try.  My Nana made this filling and used it for her homemade ravioli.  This filling is a nice change from cheese or meat ravioli.  I made the filling and today we had some Jumbo Shells stuffed with chicken and spinach and topped them with my homemade marinara sauce.  Bon Appetit!

February 16,2016 original 

I only topped some of the shells with mozzarella (Watching hubby's low fat diet)

Pulse to coarse consistency

Pulse to finer consistency

1 1/2 lb. cooked chicken( I used chicken breasts)  I boiled them with a bit of salt and let them cool(cut in large pieces)
1/2 cup seasoned or unseasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated cheese (of course I use Pecorino Romano)
1/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen spinach cooked
1 T Olive oil
1 clove minced garlic
1 egg beaten
1 tablespoon water if needed to hold together(you can use chicken broth also)

Pulse all in food processor to the consistency you desire.Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

1 box Jumbo Shells cooked according to directions

Rinse slightly and drain.  Fill and top with fresh marinara sauce or jarred sauce of choice.  Top with grated Pecorino Romano cheese and mozzarella.  Bake 20 to 30 minutes covered.


From my kitchen to yours,

8/30/12

Dulce de Leche Cream cake

After finally going through all my recipes that I have saved over the years I decided it was time to get to making some new recipes to share.  I taste test them all! so if you see it you can be assured I ate it and most likely liked it.  Hubby taste tests too!!!

Enjoy!  This ones a keeper.

1- white or yellow cake mix made according to directions
1-14 oz.Sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup caramel ice cream topping
2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/3 cup toasted almonds.

Bake cake mix according to directions in a 13 x9 inch pan.  Cool completely. Note:  I made a few holes in cake while warm with the end of a rounded cheese spreader so as to have some of the caramel cream seep into the cake.

Place sweetened condensed milk in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on medium power , stirring halfway through for 4 minutes.  Reduce heat to medium low power and microwave stirring every few minutes for 16 to 24 minutes or until thick and light caramel color.  Stir in caramel topping.  Cool for 15 minutes. Spread eveningly over cake.  Cool completely.

Beat cream on high speed with powdered sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form.  Spoon over cooled cake, sprinkle with almonds and refrigerate for several hours.  Refrigerate leftovers.

adapted from Meals.com

Ice cream layer cake

I’m always making desserts and not all of them are scratch recipes.

We all take short cuts even though we prefer making recipes from scratch.  Here’s one I made today and I used a box cake mix I had handy.  Use any cake mix you might enjoy and you certainly can change the flavor of the ice cream as well!

1 - box chocolate cake mix made according to directions.

I-pint Heavy whipping cream or Large cool whip

If using heavy cream, add I tsp. vanilla and approximately 4 tablespoons of powdered sugar and BEAT until stiff peaks form.

Topping of choice.  I used mini chocolate morsels.

Spray bottom of (2) 13x9 inch pans with cooking spray.

***I used disposable cake pans for convenience.

Batter will be thin.  Pour equal amounts into pans spreading evenly.

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Bake for approximately 20 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

COOL COMPLETELY!!!

Place approximately 2 cups Vanilla ice cream softened on one (1) pan.  

It is easy to spread if softened a little. I let mine out for 10 minutes and kept stirring until slightly softened.

Place the other cake on top of the ice cream and push down gently.

Spread either heavy whipping cream or cool whip all over cake.  Top with your favorite topping.

Place in freezer at least an hour to set.  Using a large blade knife cut into generous pieces.  Yummy!

I spread beaten heavy cream all over the cake and topped with morsels.  

****NOTE:  in center you can put thinly sliced bananas or your favorite nuts along with the softened ice cream.

Shrimp Mascarpone

New Recipe!!

I’ve been wanting to try this recipe for sometime.

I adapted it to our favorite seafood and food tastes 

6 T butter

1T olive oil 

1T dried parsley 

1 clove minced garlic

1/2 lb. fresh green beans (par cooked)

1/2 lb. mushrooms (optional)

1/2 tsp. Onion powder

Salt, pepper to taste

1lb. Cooked shrimp

3/4 lb. Cellantini pasta or pasta of choice

Sauce:

1/4 cup milk

1(8oz.) Container mascarpone cheese

2 T butter

Cook pasta according to directions. Note do not overcook.

Make sauce.

In a small pot on low heat place butter and milk, add mascarpone and blend together.  

In another pan melt butter with olive oil. Add garlic , onion powder and cooked green beans. Sauté slowly. Add cooked shrimp and cook until shrimp is warmed.

 

Remove and drain pasta add to butter Mascarpone sauce.

Serve immediately.  Enjoy!

Basic chili con carne

Easy Homemade is best recipes.  That how I roll!!!! The key to a delicious meal doesn’t have to be labor intensive.

Enjoy!

1 lb. ground chuck(Beef)
1  medium onion chopped fine
2  to 3 T. Chili powder
1- 28oz.  can Tuttorusso or your favorite brand tomato sauce.  **(Sometimes I use crushed tomatoes ) or ***tomato juice.  It’s my favorite)
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Pepper
I tsp. Oil

1 15oz.. can kidney beans rinsed and drained Thoroughly.

In a large Dutch oven place oil.  Add ground chuck, onion ,salt and pepper.

Cook on medium heat until meat has browned slightly while breaking up meat into small pieces. Drain off any excess fat.

Add tomato sauce and approximately 1/4 cup water (rinse can and add that water)**** if adding crushed tomatoes or tomato juice no extra water is needed.

Add chili powder.

Stir to combine

Add drained beans and stir.  Cook slowly uncovered for approximately 1 hour or to save time place all of cooked beef and the rest of ingredients in your crockpot and cook on low approximately 4 hours.  Enjoy!  

And for dessert!!!!!!

Angel food cake smothered in chocolate pudding and whipped cream.,,,