Far Out Pasta Shells

    This recipe came about because when my children were much younger, I had given to me, some “family” sized portions of stuffed pasta! A great deal for someone struggling to raise five kids, but they wouldn’t eat it! I couldn’t understand it. They were cheese stuffed and they like cheese and pasta and sauce, so what is it? They said, “It’s too dry”. Just stir the sauce into it I said, nope wouldn’t eat it. So I came up with this recipe with all the same ingredients (I did add a little meat for me but it doesn’t need to be there) and not only did they like it, it became a family staple. Plus the grooviest thing is, after each one “flew the nest” they always called and asked for my recipe for stuffed shells!

Ingredients

1 box jumbo pasta shells

2 jars 32 ounce pasta sauce or equivalent if homemade.

16 ounces ricotta cheese

8 ounces shredded mozzarella

1/3 cup grated Parmesan

1 lb lean ground beef

Bring two quarts of water to rapid boil and pour in jumbo shells, stir occasionally, cooked approx 12 minutes. You don’t want them too tender, they should still be a little firm because you’ll finish cooking them in the oven. When done drain and rinse under cool water so you’ll be able to handle them.

Brown ground beef in skillet

In large bowl mix Ricotta, Mozzarella, Parmesan, and ground beef, add about ¼ of the sauce or about 16 ounces and stir. (at this point it will not look pretty, don’t worry)

Grease large shallow baking dish or pan

Pour about 16 ounces of the sauce into the bottom of the baking pan.

Using a small spoon begin stuffing the shells with the cheese mixture and setting them into the pan.

When they are all stuffed pour the remaining sauce over the top

Place pan in pre-heated 350 degree oven for thirty minutes

Remove and allow to cool for five minutes, enjoy!

Groovy Gooey Pizza

You know how much people spend on take out pizza or even worse those frozen things you bring home from the supermarket and they have to remind you to throw the cardboard away because they’re afraid you won’t be able to distinguish it from the pizza! Now save money and make better tasting pizza with exactly the toppings you want! You can even have fun and let the kids put their own toppings on! They’ll really think you’re groovy!

1 cup warm water

1 tsp active dry yeast

2 1/4 cups unbleached flour (or wheat flour is good as well)

6 ounces tomato sauce

Oregano

Garlic powder

4 ounces shredded cheese (mozzarella or a blend of mozzarella & cheddar, which I personally like)

Toppings, veggies, pepperoni, whatever you like

Pre heat oven to 500 degrees and place rack on lowest level

Generously grease or spray with cooking spray one pizza pan.

1 cup warm to hot water (I use tap water hot for temp) (not too hot or you kill the yeast) in mixing bowl.

Add 1 teaspoon active dry yeast (this is the equivalent of one of those packets, which you can also use) and mix thoroughly

(If you want a flavored crust add garlic now)

Add flour and mix till you have a dough ball, if still tacky sprinkle flour until it can be handled without sticking to your fingers.

Place dough ball in middle of pan, If you like a thicker crust let sit 15-20 minutes for thinner crust use immediately

Begin spreading evenly towards the edges of the pan (lightly dip fingers into flour to help it keep from sticking)

Once spread to edges, press down just in from the edge all the way around to form a crust.

pour on tomato sauce and spread to edges of crust and sprinkle oregano liberally, add garlic powder to taste.

Spread cheese on top, and add favorite toppings

Bake for 10-12 minutes until cheese is melted and crust is lightly brown on bottom

Cajun Meatballs

This is a great recipe for a party or you can spoon it over your choice of pasta for a great tasting spaghetti and meatballs. The Cajun seasoning gives just enough kick to make it noticeable but not hot. You’ll wow them with this one and that’s always groovy!

ingredients

    4lbs lean ground beef

    6 large eggs

    16 oz  bread crumbs

    1/3 cup Italian seasoning

    1/3 cup Cajun seasoning

    96 ounces Pasta sauce (three jars or the equivalent amt of home made) (16 ounces set aside for mix) The rest for the crock pot

Place ground meat in large bowl,

add bread crumbs and seasonings, then eggs and begin mixing/kneading of all ingredients

Add pasta sauce slowly so you don't make it mushy, it should be firm and sticky

When thoroughly mixed (be sure there are no hidden pockets of spices) begin forming into 1 to 1 1/2 inch meatballs and placing on a shallow baking pan (I usually spray mine with cooking spray first cause I'm lazy)

Bake in pre heated 350 degree oven for 45 minutes

Let cool 15 minutes

Pour enough sauce into crock pot to cover the bottom and begin placing meatballs in continue adding meatballs and sauce til pot is full.

Heat and enjoy! Makes 45-50 meatballs