Stuffed Shells Pioneer Woman Recipe 415

Steps:

• For the marinara sauce: Heat the oil in a medium heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, if using, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic has softened but not browned, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat, add the basil and dried oregano, partially cover and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened, about 45 minutes.
• Remove the basil sprig. If the sauce is still too chunky, mash the larger chunks of tomato with a potato masher. Season with salt and pepper. Let cool.
• For the shells and filling: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the dried pasta shells cook, stirring occasionally, until softened slightly but not cooked. (The pasta shells should flexible enough to be filled but remain very al dente; they will continue to cook during baking.) Drain, then run under cold water to stop cooking. Drain well again.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Mix together the ricotta, mozzarella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, parsley and egg in a large bowl until well combined and uniform. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Transfer the filling to a large disposable pastry bag or large resealable plastic bag (or use a spoon for filling directly from the bowl).
• Spread 2 1/2 cups of the marinara sauce in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Snip off the end of the pastry bag and squeeze the filling into the shells one at a time. Arrange the shells open-side up in a tight single layer in the baking dish as you fill them. Top with the remaining marinara sauce. Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake the shells until the sauce is bubbling throughout and the filling is heated through, about 35 minutes.
• Remove the foil from the pan and continue to bake for 10 more minutes to reduce the sauce. Let cool slightly before serving. Top with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the paccheri for 1 minute less than the package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain. Rinse the pasta thoroughly with cold water after draining.
• Combine the ricotta with 1/2 cup of the pesto and 2 cups of fontina, then mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a piping bag or resealable bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe the mixture into each paccheri. (This doesn't need to be perfect. If a paccheri is very torn or broken, do not use.) Stand each filled paccheri upright in a 10-inch springform pan until it is packed tightly.
• Thin the alfredo sauce with the reserved pasta water in a bowl, then pour it into the pan over the filled paccheri, spreading evenly. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 cups fontina cheese.
• Bake until the mixture is bubbly and the cheese on top is melted, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes. Drizzle with the rest of the pesto and garnish with the fresh basil. Remove the springform side, then slice and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta shells and cook for half of the cooking time on the package. Make sure not to overcook. Drain and rinse in cool water. Set aside.
• In a bowl, mix together the ricotta, Romano, parsley, basley, egg, some salt and pepper, and half the Parmesan. Stir until combined.
• To assemble, coat the bottom of a baking dish with some sauce.
• Fill each half cooked shell with the cheese mixture and place face down on the sauce.
• Repeat with the shells until the cheese mixture is gone.
• Top the shells with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle on the mozzarella and extra Parmesan.
• Bake until hot and bubbly, 25 minutes. Serve with crusty French bread.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta shells and cook for half the cooking time on the package; make sure not to overcook. Drain and rinse in cool water. Set aside. In a bowl, mix together the ricotta, Romano, parsley, basil, egg, some salt and pepper and half of the Parmesan. Stir until combined. To assemble, coat the bottom of a baking dish with some sauce. Fill each half-cooked shell with the cheese mixture and place face-down on the sauce. Repeat with the shells until the cheese mixture is gone. Top the shells with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle on the mozzarella and extra Parmesan. Bake until hot and bubbly, 25 minutes. Serve with crusty French bread.