Easy Ricotta Stuffed Shells

Cookbook club in the house!!  We had some Bday MONTH ladies tonight, so glad I could celebrate with them a little!!  This was very easy to make - and it was pretty good!  VERY CHEESY :)  One suggestion was to put some Italian Sausage in there (and that didn't even come from ROSS)!!

Ingredients:

12 oz package jumbo pasta shells

2 eggs, beaten

15 oz container low-fat ricotta cheese

16 oz low-fat cottage cheese

1 pound shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

8 ounces grated Parmesan cheese, divided

1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning (I would use parsley next time...)

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

28 ounce jar pasta sauce

8 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

In a large bowl, mix eggs, ricotta, cottage cheese, half the mozzarella, half the Parmesan, Italian Seasoning, salt and pepper until well combined. Stuff cooked shells with ricotta mixture and place in a 9x13 inch baking dish.

In a medium bowl, stir together pasta sauce, mushrooms and reserved Parmesan. Pour over stuffed shells. Then sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella cheese on top.

Bake in preheated oven 45 to 60 minutes, until edges are bubbly.    

Roasted Asparagus and Mushroom Pasta in Lemon-Cream Sauce

Ahhhh heaven!!  I came home from Blooma, and our house smelt awesome!!  Ross was nice enough to make this meal up - and it was sooooo good!!  Like I literally LICKED my entire plate good!!  Ross kept saying "this is awesome, right?!"  haha  It was just so good!!  I can't wait to eat this tomorrow all over again :)

Serves 6-8: OBB Cookbook

Ingredients:

1 lb asparagus, tough ends snapped off
3-4 cups whole mushrooms, thickly sliced
5-6 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/4 cup strained lemon juice
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon Creole or coarse-grain mustard
8 ounces uncooked linguine
1 recipe of Guiltless Alfredo Sauce
Optional: Grilled chicken breast or sauteed shrimp

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine trimmed asparagus and sliced mushrooms. Zest the lemons (enough to get 1 tablespoon of zest) and set the zest aside.

In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and mustard.  Drizzle over the veggies and toss to combine. Spread the veggies out onto the prepared baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes or until the asparagus is tender but not mushy. Remove from oven and allow to stand for 5-10 minutes.

While the veggies are roasting, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and, when the water is ready, cook pasta al dente. Prepare the Alfredo sauce. After you’ve added the cheese, add the reserved lemon zest to the sauce. When the asparagus and mushrooms are done roasting, you can either portion out the pasta, veggies, and sauce into individual servings or toss it all together.

Guiltless Alfredo Sauce

This sauce is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!  The best part about it is you can have this with just plain noodles - OR I've made it with Asian BBQ Chicken Pizza, Flatbread Pizza with Spinach, Caramelized Onions, and Feta, and Roasted Asparagus & Mushroom Pasta.  Oh it's just so good - you will find yourself licking the bowl!!

Ingredients:
2 cups low-fat milk
1/3 cup (3 oz) low fat cream cheese
2-3 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter
3 garlic cloves
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Place milk, cream cheese, flour, and salt in a blender and blend until smooth.  In a non-stick sauce pan, melt butter on med-high heat and add garlic. Let the garlic saute for about 30 seconds, you don’t want to burn it.

Then add milk mixture to the pan. Stir constantly for about 3 or 4 minutes or until it just comes to a simmer. Keep stirring and let it cook for a few minutes more. It should be much thicker now.

When it’s nice and thickened remove the pan from the heat. Add the cheese, stir it up and then cover immediately. Let stand for at least 10 minutes before using. It will continue to thicken upon standing. Also, if you have leftovers in the fridge, the sauce will thicken almost into a solid. Just re-heat and add a little milk and it will be back to normal again.

Untidy Josephs

Who wants some sloppy joes!!!  My hubby is on fire this week - he made up this yummy feast, AND went out and bought my prego craving (cottage cheese, sunflower, chips - SO GOOD!).  Got this recipe from Dale-Doe...pretty dang good, and a twist on your typical sloppies!

Dale-Doe's recipe

Ingredients:

1 ½ lb hamburger

Onion

Can chicken Gumbo soup

1 teaspoon mustard

2 tablespoons ketchup (or BBQ sauce)

Liquid smoke

Garlic Powder
Salt
Pepper

Fry up 1-1/2 pound of hamburger with an onion chopped.

Add can of Chicken Gumbo soup, yellow mustard, Ketchup (or BBQ sauce).  Then simmer until thickens.

Add in other items to taste: Liquid Smoke, garlic powder, salt, pepper.

Caribbean Salad with Sweet Orange Vinaigrette

My hubby is back!!  He did the grocery shopping AND the prep work - ahhh so nice!!  PLUS, this salad was AMAZING!  It made me want to be in the Caribbean on vacation......"Toes in the water"......but anyways - make this, super awesome!!

OBB Cookbook: Serves  4 main dish, or 6-8 sides

Ingredients

1 large bunch Romaine Lettuce
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, grilled.
8 ounce can mandarin oranges, drained
1 red bell pepper, diced or sliced
4-5 green onions, sliced
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
6-8 tablespoons dried cherries or cranberries
Black or regular sesame seeds
optional: diced fresh pineapple

Vinaigrette
1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice (about 1/2 of a large navel orange)
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup canola oil

To prepare dressing, combine orange juice, vinegar, dry mustard, sugar, sesame oil, and salt in the jar of a blender.  Blend until sugar is dissolved.  With blender running on low either remove stopper in blender lid, or crack the corner and slowly drizzle in oil, mixing until just combined.  Store dressing in fridge until ready to use, can prepare a day or two ahead of time.

To prepare salads, divide lettuce between 4 plates, top with grilled chicken, mandarin oranges, bell pepper, green onions, cilantro, and dried cherries or cranberries.   Drizzle with dressing and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Pork Chops in a Slow Cooker

Ross needs to come home, so I don't have leftovers for a whole week!!  This was really easy to throw together, but I probably wouldn't make it again...it wasn't uber flavorful and I've had better.

Ingredients:

4 to 6 pork chops without bone

1 can condensed cream of chicken soup

1 small can of mushrooms, drained and chopped

1/4 cup Dijon mustard 

1/4 cup water

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1/2 teaspoon dried basil 

1/4 teaspoon black pepper 

4 potatoes, unpeeled, cut into cubes

1 onion

Combine soup, mushrooms, mustard, water, salt, basil, salt and pepper in your slow cooker.

Add potatoes and onion, stirring to coat.  Place pork chops on top of potato mixture.  Cover and cook on Low 8 to 10 hours or on High 4 to 5 hours. 

Bachelorette Feud

Have you ever watched Family Feud?!  Here is a GREAT idea for game night at your house!!  This game was PERFECT for the bachelorette party!!  (I apologize in advance for the inappropriate answers!)

 Supplies:
Posterboard
Cardstock

Write out your questions - and then put scores that equal 100 points.  Then cover them with cardstock (with #s on the front).  Then make sure to put the answers (associated to what #) on the back for the person hosting.  Then play the game just like Family Feud!

Stache or Tiara

I'm sure you have seen the games that ask the bride / groom questions, but this is a cute way to get everyone involved!! Basically you ask the bride/groom questions beforehand - then have the guests hold up a stache or tiara depending on WHO they think answered the question.

Supplies:
Stache / Tiara (see template below) for each guest
Popsicle sticks
List of questions (see below)

Send the list of questions and have bride/groom answer them.  Then at the shower - read the question and 1 of their answers out loud.  The guests will then hold up a TIARA if they feel the answer came from the bride, or a STACHE if they feel the answer came from the groom.  Have fun and get to know your bride/groom :) 

STACHE / TIARA TEMPLATE:

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS:

What was the name of your fiancés first pet

When and where was your first date

Where was your first kiss

Where did you go on your first trip together

What is your favorite dinner that your fiancé cooks

What is your typical Friday night look like

What is the first movie you saw together

Describe your perfect date night

What quality do you love most about your fiancé

What is your fiancés best  physical feature

What is your fiancés most annoying habit

What is your fiancés biggest fear

What are your fiancés guilty pleasures

What song does your fiancé love, but doesn’t like to admit

How long does it take your fiancé to get ready in the am

What is your fiancés most prized possession

How does your fiancé like their eggs cooked

How many times does your fiancé hit the snooze button before getting up

How many times does your fiancé fart a day

If you could throw one thing away that your fiancé owns – what would it be

At what instant did you know your fiancé was “the one”

What will be your first new purchase as a married couple

How many kids do you want

If a fire broke out in the house, what would your fiancé save first

If you could choose one house chore to never have to do again, what would it be

Where do you think you guys will be in 10 years

Orange / Nylon Bachelorette Game

 Ahhh another fun bachelorette game.....easy prep too :)  Always good for a few laughs!!

Supplies:
4 nylons
6 oranges

Split the guests into two teams.  Have the front two people tie 1 nylon (with the orange in the bottom) around their waist.  Place the other orange in front of them - and then have them hit the orange with the one around their waist (no using hands!) down to the goal.  Once they reach it - they run back, and the next in line goes...etc.

Hotdog / Mousetrap Bachelorette Game

I'm always looking for bachelorette games, so thought I would share my finds :) I've played this game a couple different ways - so shared my advice and ideas below!  Let the bachelorette fun begin!!

Supplies:
Hotdogs (1 for each guest)
String
Scissors
Mousetrap (1 for each guest OR 1 total - see game options below)

Go around to each of your guests with the string.  Just tell them to "cut the string however long or short they want".  Once everyone has cut their string - explain the game.
          -You are going to tie a raw hotdog on one side of the string - and then connect the other end of the string to yourself (jean loops are the easiest way...)

            Option #1: Get your hotdog to snap in the mousetrap FIRST and you win.  NO using hands at any point of the game.  (Use 1 mousetrap per person)
            Option #2: Get your hotdog to snap in the mousetrap, and have the LEAST amount cut off your hotdog to win. NO using hands at any point of the game.  (Use only 1 moustrap total, and go 1 person at a time)

Watch the interesting techniques and have fun :)

Unique Shower Guest Book

Need a fun shower / bachelorette party idea - try this out!  Instead of having a guest book - I thought this was fun!  Get a Jenga game, and then have the guests write either little messages/advice, OR capture all the funny moments from the special occasion.  Super fun idea - and then you can give it to them as a shower gift!

Bride and Groom Wine Glasses

Had these made for Perrine's Bachelorette party - how cute are these?!                                               If you are interested - let me know, and I can share the ladies name and #.  (Didn't want to post it on here without her knowing, but she would LOVE to spread her business!!)                     You could make them for any occasion.  How cute would it be to use these for your wedding day; & you can personalize them anyway you want!

Thong Cookies

Bachelorette party this weekend, so figured I would make up these cutie cookies!!  They were a hit :)  AND so easy to make!!  Super cutie - ahhh yummy butts!!

Ingredients:
1 batch of Sugar Cookies (use heart shape cookie cutter - and cut the tip)
Frosting

Roasted Veggie Panini with Creamy Chipotle-Lime Dressing

Makes 4 large sandwiches -OBB Cookbook

Ingredients:

4 high-quality ciabatta or focaccia rolls or 8 slices high-quality sandwich bread (like sourdough)
Creamy Chipotle-Lime Dressing (recipe below)
8 (1-oz) slices Provolone or pepperjack cheese (or half Provolone and half pepperjack)
1/2 cup guacamole
2 portabello mushrooms, cut into 1/2″ slices
1 small red onion, sliced
1/2 pound fresh asparagus, tough ends snapped off
1/2 cup (approximately) roasted red peppers

Creamy Chipotle-Lime Dressing

1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 1-ounce package Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
3-4 cloves garlic
Juice of 1 lime
1/4 cup adobo sauce (from a can of chipotle chilies)
1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro (about 1 handful)

To prepare the dressing, place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until combined. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Preheat oven to 450. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place washed and snapped asparagus, sliced portabellos, and sliced onion on the baking sheet. Drizzle with 2-3 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Toss to evenly distribute the the oil and salt and pepper (you may need a little more on the mushrooms because they tend to absorb it). Roast for 15 minutes or until veggies are tender.

While the veggies are roasting, spread both sides of each piece of bread with the Creamy Lime-Chipotle Dressing. Place a slice of cheese on the bottom. Add 1/4 of the roasted red peppers.

Spread the top with guacamole and then place another slice of cheese on top of the guacamole.

When the veggies are done roasting, divide them among the sandwiches (on the bottom half). Top each sandwich and cook in a panini press (or on a skillet with a heated pan pressed on top of the sandwich). Allow to stand 2-3 minutes before cutting in half and serving.

Zucchini Ribbon Pasta

Rossy has left this girl for 2 weeks, but preggers still needs to eat :)  Don't be over-whelmed by the length of this recipe.  It literally took me 30 minutes from start to eating!  It was really good - AND I had it leftover the following day (so it tastes yummy hot or cold!)  I also got to use my new serving bowl I made at "Paint-Your-Plate"; didn't I do such a great job!!  hehe

OBB Cookbook: Serves 4 generous main dish servings, or 8 sides.

Ingredients
½ lb (or 8 oz) fettuccine
1 medium zucchini
2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
10 ounces grape tomatoes (about 2 cups)
kosher salt
black pepper
3-4 cloves finely minced garlic
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
3 ounces fat-free cream cheese
1 cup very loosely packed basil, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice, more if desired

Prepare a pot of water and cook pasta according to package instructions.  Cut ends off zucchini and slice along the long direction, cutting the zucchini into about ⅛ inch slices.  Cut each of those slices into long pieces, about the same size as the fettuccine. Set zucchini aside.

Heat a medium size skillet to medium heat.  When hot, add 1 teaspoon olive oil.  Add tomatoes and give them a little sprinkle of kosher salt and a few cracks of black pepper.  Cook, stirring frequently, for about 3-4 minutes. Just until they start to burst and look blistered.  Remove tomatoes from pan and place in a small dish, covered, and set aside.

Add another 1 teaspoon olive oil to the empty pan and add garlic.  Stir constantly on medium-low heat for about 30-60 seconds.  Add chicken broth.  Bring to a simmer and use a spatula to scrape any browned bits off the bottom of the pan.  Simmer for 1-2 minutes and then reduce heat to low.

Place cream cheese in a microwave-safe bowl and soften for 20-30 seconds, until it can be easily stirred smooth.  Ladle in a couple spoonfuls of the chicken broth mixture into the cream cheese and stir to combine.  Once the mixture is smooth, add it to the pan with the remaining broth mixture and whisk until smooth and creamy. Add chopped basil and lemon juice and stir to combine.  Taste sauce and season with salt and pepper to taste.  (Lemon lovers can also squeeze in extra lemon juice at this point.)

When pasta is just about done, add zucchini strips to pot (so they’re cooking with the pasta).  Boil for about 2 minutes, or until tender.  Drain zucchini and pasta and combine with sauce.  Gently toss in tomatoes, or simply add them on top of each serving. Garnish with additional basil if desired.

Watermelon Salad

Had dinner with the rents tonight, and we had this yummy salad!!  Super quick and super easy - do it up!

Ingredients:
8 cups lettuce
2 cups seedless watermelon chunks
3/4 quartered cucumber slices
1/3 cup thin small red onion slices
1/3 cup Light Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing
1 tablespoon mayo

Combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl.  Whisk dressing gradually into mayo - until well blended.  Add to salad - toss to coat!