Husband’s Favorite New Recipe
Stuffed Shell Ingredients
- 16 large pasta shells (about 4 1/2 ozs)
- 1 T butter
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
- 6 ozs chicken breast, diced into 1/4″ cubes
- 3 ozs cream cheese, softened
- 6 ozs ricotta cheese (about 3/4 cup)
- 3 T basil pesto
- 1 oz Parmesan cheese, shredded (about 1/4 cup) (I use grated.)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 ozs mozzarella cheese, shredded (about 1/2 cup) [Use at end on top of dish.]
- Thinly sliced fresh basil for serving (I don’t use.)
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 T butter
- 1 T flour (I use about 2 T. Start with 1 T.)
- 1 cup cream
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chopped fresh spinach
Instructions
- Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil; cook shells according to package instructions; drain and set aside. (I boil 9 minutes.)
- While shells cooking, make filling. In a 12″ cast-iron skillet over medium heat, melt butter. (I use large frying pan/skillet.) Add garlic and chicken. Cook, stirring frequently, until chicken is fully cooked. Remove pan from heat and add chicken (and garlic) to a medium bowl.
- Add cream cheese, ricotta, basil pesto, Parmesan, salt and pepper to bowl with chicken; mix well and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- In the same skillet used to cook chicken, make sauce: Melt butter over medium-low heat; add flour and cook, stirring constantly, until a smooth paste forms (about 1 minute). Add cream in slow, steady stream, whisking constantly. Once all cream has been added, add milk in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly. Add salt and continue to cook, whisking frequently until sauce begins to (slightly thicken) and simmer. Remove from heat and add spinach.
- Evenly divide chicken/ricotta mixture among shells and arrange in cast-iron skillet (I use glass baking dish.) over sauce. Top with mozzarella cheese and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until cheese is golden brown.
- Top with thinly sliced fresh basil and serve with steamed broccoli. (I omit basil and serve with mixed leafy greens topped with Roma tomatoes and balsamic vinaigrette.
(NOTE: Chicken may be omitted.)
Source: MARYJANESFARM.ORG
May 2020.