My version of Stuffed Shells.

I posted a picture on Instagram last week of this dinner. A few friends said it looked delicious and one might like the recipe.  So here it is, I aim to please.  This dish has a few steps but it also has a some short cuts.  I'm all about Semi-homemade meals, ala Sandra Lee! 

I basically love anything with pasta as does the rest of my family.  The creamy sauce was pretty much drinkable.  It would be great with raviolis or even lasagna. I hope that you try it out and enjoy it as much as we did.

Ingredients for Sauce

1 jar pre-made Alfredo Sauce (here's the short cut)
1 can Organic Diced Tomatoes
1 Tablespoon fresh Organic Basil, Chiffonade (fancy term for thin strips)
Garlic Salt & Cracked Pepper to taste
1/2 Teaspoon Red Chili Flakes
1/2 cup water

Heat sauce to medium heat till flavors have melded together. 
While your making sauce bring a big pot of water to boil for your shells.  I used about 15 Jumbo Shells from Ronzoni.  I would boil extra in case some tear or you end up needing more.

Filling for Shells

1 20 oz Ricotta Cheese
1/2 cup Tomato Basil Feta Cheese crumbled
1 Organic Egg
Garlic Salt & Pepper to taste

Mix filling in medium bowl. 
After Shells are done boiling take them out and lay on foil to cool.
Meanwhile spray a 9x13 casserole dish and then ladle some of the sauce into bottom of dish.  Coating the entire surface.
 
When shells are cool enough to touch you can spoon ricotta mix into them with a spoon. A piping bag would have been a nice touch but this mama did not have time for that ;)  When all the shells are filled up you can gently pour the rest of your sauce over them.  Making sure to fill every nook and cranny. 

Final touch would be to garnish top of shells with more fresh basil.  Then bake your pasta in a 350 degree oven until hot about 15-20 minutes. 

Labor Day Weekend Camping!

 

This end of Summer camp trip is always our most favorite of all.  We go every year with my folks, and close family friends that are more like aunties and cousins to us.  Just the drive is the crappy part, 4 hours with young kids can be less than perfect.  This road trip was actually much easier though because we took our nephew Logan, and both girls just adore him!  Gia and Amira are both at the age to where they finally listen and don't go running off into the road!

My parents have been taking us camping here at Lake Mayfield for 20 years now.  Back in the day we started out in tents.  Then progressed to tent trailers and now they have a beautiful 5th wheel.  Amira bunked with them the first few nights.  She cant get enough of her grandparents and their new puppy Wyatt!

Mario and I have a camper and I'm so thankful for that.  My old aging body couldn't handle sleeping on the dirt floor!  This year our camper was full of kids coloring, goofing around, and more than I like to admit, watching Peppa Pig.  Gia is newly in love with this cartoon.  One fun things the kids were able to do was go jet skiing.  Or as I would say, Sea Doo'in.  I took Amira out on her first rides ever and it was a blast!  That girl likes to go full throttle, not surprised.  Now Mario is on Craigslist looking at Sea Doos, lol!

We did a couple camping trips this Summer and one log cabin excursion.  Getting outdoors and doing fun things with our girls are most important to us.  In the next few years I hope to have a tropical getaway with the hubs, I'm patiently awaiting our alone time ;)  Thank you for reading!

Oven Baked Potatoes with Bacon

Wow.  It has been eons since I blogged.  I'm not sure if anyone has noticed much. Haha. Well here I am tonight with a simple rustic recipe.  Blogging about food is much easier these days than spilling all my beans!  Lately in Washington we've been going through a good heat wave which has left me very wary of turning on a 400* oven!  We don't have AC in our house and I'm seriously thinking we need it by next Summer.  The past few evenings haven't been as brutal so I thought, why not turn that bad boy on and make some stick to your ribs food.

It doesn't look like much but these potatoes will have them running from the hills.  The smells coming from your oven will be like bacon heaven.  Sorry if you're a vegetarian!  The recipe is very easy, has few ingredients, and most likely you already have them in your pantry and fridge!  I made steak and salad to go along with these but you could just eat this as your meal.
These potatoes are my hubbys fave and a close second to mine.  Here's what you'll need.

Ingredients

375 degree pre heated oven
1 1/2 pounds of baby red potatoes, quartered
1 small white onion, diced
3 pieces bacon cut into lardon (strips) getting fancy ;)
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper to taste
Red Pepper Flakes
Dried Basil

In large baking dish 9x13 I add my potatoes and onions.  I try to cut my potatoes and onion similar in size.  Then I add sliced bacon (lardon).  Add minced garlic and olive oil and toss together.  Season with salt and pepper liberally (after the oil so it sticks) We love heat so I add quite a bit of red pepper flakes but you can use less or none if you wish.  Dried basil or fresh would be perfect for this dish.  I just sprinkle it on before putting in oven.  Bake for 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender and browned.

I hope that you enjoy this dish and if you don't try it now, maybe in Fall, my favorite season!  Thank you so much for reading!