No Time to Stuff Shells

Last night my daughter requested stuffed shells. I only had a few minutes to prepare dinner though, so I improvised with this original creation. It uses the ingredients for stuffed shells without the work.

No Time to Stuff Shells
by Hazel Berger

Cook penne pasta (or another small pasta) according to package directions. Do not overcook. While the pasta is cooking, mix together the following:

2 eggs

1.5 lb ricotta cheese

1/2 C grated parmesan cheese

1 T dried parsley flakes

1 T dried basil

1 t salt

1/4 t pepper

Cover bottom of steep casserole dish with ricotta mixture. Pour drained, cooked noodles on top of ricotta. Cover with the following in order.


1 C mozzarella cheese
1 jar of Prego Heart Smart Roasted Red Pepper and Garlic 26 oz jar mixed with 1/2 jar of water
1C mozzarella cheese
1/2 C parmesan cheese

Bake at 350° for 35 minutes. Cover casserole with tin foil, if cheese starts to get too dark.

Five Quarts of Delicious

Created this last night and it was so good thought I would share.

Five Quarts of Delicious
Recipe by Hazel Berger

1 lb+ ground sirloin
parmesan cheese, shredded
fresh spinach leaves
angel hair pasta
Prego Heart Smart Roasted Red Pepper and Garlic 26 oz jar
2 C Mozzarela cheese
1/4 C shredded parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 400°. Brown the ground beef in a 5 quart oven safe dish. Rinse and drain the meat and return to the pan. Cook the angel hair pasta as directed. Drain and add a little country crock to keep noodles from sticking together.

Cover the meat with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese in the 5 quart pan. Add a layer or two of spinach leaves. Layer the noodles on top of the spinach. Add half of the jar of sauce carefully covering (but not rearranging) the dish. Add water to the jar and mix with remaining sauce. Cover the rest of the dish with the sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarela cheese and then top with parmesan.

Bake at 400° for 25 minutes. Check to see that the cheese does not burn. Cover with tin foil if it gets too dark. Cool 5 minutes.

Serves 4-6