"Everyday Cooking"- Pasta Shells stuffed with Spinach,Mushrooms and Ricotta Cheese

 Making Pastas can be 'simple' or 'elaborate'.It depends on how you choose to make it.On busy days, I make pastas that are simple, just throw in cooked veggies and marinara sauce (store bought sometimes!) in cooked pasta and Done! But this was not one of those days. I chose to spend some quality time with my Pasta!
Not many times have I made 'stuffed' pasta...for the time it takes and for it's 'heaviness'.It can be a pretty heavy meal mind you! But instead of just stuffing the pasta with cheese, I used a lotttt of Spinach and mushrooms and a 'Skim' Ricotta cheese. The deal wasn't bad at all...in fact it was DELICIOUSSSSS and pretty looking!!!!

Ingredients:(Makes about 6-8 servings)
1 12oz pkg of Jumbo Pasta shells
1 15oz Skim Ricotta cheese
3/4-1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella)
3 cups chopped spinach
1cup chopped mushrooms
1tsp minced garlic
1tbsp chopped onion
1 cup crushed tomatoes (saute chopped tomatoes till cooked)
1/2tsp sugar
2tsp olive oil
Italian seasoning
Black pepper
Red Pepper flakes
Some milk

Method:
1) Saute chopped spinach,1/2tsp garlic and mushrooms in little oil. Saute till all water evaporates.Add salt and red pepper flakes.Drain if necessary and keep aside and cool.The water can be used in soups or the marinara sauce.

2) Heat little oil, add chopped garlic, onions, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, sugar.Cook for 2-3 mins.Marinara sauce is ready
3) In the sauteed spinach mixture add the ricotta cheese, Italian seasoning and some salt.Mix.
4) Cook the Pasta shells as per packet directions.Drain and let cool a little.
5) Stuff the shells with spoonful of spinach-ricotta mixture.

6) Arrange in 'oven safe' baking dish. Spread marinara sauce and shredded cheese on top.

7) Sprinkle little milk on top and cover with aluminum foil.Bake at 325 for 20-30 mins till the cheese melts.

8) Serve the pasta steaming hot with a salad or a soup.
Salad:
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2011/03/everyday-cooking-field-green-salad-with.html 
 Soups:
http://my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/search/label/Soup