Heather has a brand new book out and she's joining us here at MLK to tell you a bit about it and give one lucky person a signed copy. To have a chance to win leave a comment and your e-mail address.
Now, with no further ado, here's Heather.....
While my latest book, Midnight
at the Blackbird Café, is set in the South, and is loaded with southern
foods—and plenty of pies—my typical go-to food at home here in southern Ohio is
pasta. I truly could eat pasta every day of the week and be quite happy about
it. Spaghetti and meatballs. Chicken parmesan. Chicken alfredo. Lasagna. Yum!
One of my easier pasta recipes to throw together is stuffed
shells. It can be made ahead of time and refrigerated, too, which is nice when
you know you have a busy day ahead (just cook it longer to make sure it’s
heated through). The hardest part is stuffing the shells, which isn’t the least
bit difficult but is time-consuming and a little messy. But honestly, I think
it’s rather fun. You could always use a pastry bag to pipe the cheese mix into
the shells for a nice, picture-worthy look. I tend to cook my shells seam-side
down, but you could absolutely do seam-side up as well. When I took the pictures
for today’s post, I happened to have leftover homemade sauce on hand, but
jarred sauce works just as easily.
These stuffed shells are a tasty, comfort-food kind of meal,
and I generally serve them with salad or garlic bread (or both!). Are you a pasta-lover?
If so, what’s your favorite pasta recipe?
12 oz. box of jumbo shells
15 oz. ricotta cheese
2 c. shredded mozzarella, divided
½ c. shredded parmesan, divided
45 oz. spaghetti sauce
½ tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
* This recipe is easily
customizable. All seasonings can be adjusted for taste. Possible additions to
either the sauce or cheese mixture: ground beef or chicken, Italian sausage, well-drained
spinach, mushrooms, basil, oregano, marjoram, or parsley. Let your taste buds
guide you.
1) Preheat oven to 400°.
2) Lightly grease a 9” x 13”
baking dish.
3) Cook shells according to
package; drain; cool; set aside.
4) Spoon some spaghetti sauce
over the bottom of the greased dish, just covering it.
5) In a medium-size bowl, combine
ricotta, 1 ½ c. mozzarella, ¼ c. parmesan, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
6) Once combined, use a spoon to
fill the shells and arrange the shells in the baking dish.
7) Pour remaining sauce over the
shells.
8) Sprinkle top of shells with
remaining cheeses.
9) Cover with foil and bake for
25 minutes until heated through.
Serve with garlic bread sticks!
It was supposed to be a quick trip to close the café and settle her grandmother’s estate, but despite her best intentions to avoid forming ties or even getting to know her father’s side of the family, Anna Kate finds herself inexplicably drawn to the quirky Southern town her mother ran away from so many years ago, and the mysterious blackbird pie everybody can’t stop talking about.
As the truth about her past slowly becomes clear, Anna Kate will need to decide if this lone blackbird will finally be able to take her broken wings and fly.
----Heather Webber, aka Heather Blake, is the author of more than twenty-five novels. She loves to read, drink too much coffee and tea, birdwatch, crochet, and bake. She currently lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, and is hard at work on her next book.
Find her at
Twitter: @booksbyheather
Instagram: @booksbyheather
Appreciate this give away. And the recipe. Book looks good too. Would love to read. Sooner. Rather than later. Della at deepotter at centurylink dot net
ReplyDeleteYep, pasta will do any day. I have a stuffed shell recipe from years ago from Ragu or some jarred sauce I used to use. Have modified it a bit but it's still a standby. Thanks for the giveaway. And love your posts on your FB site.
ReplyDeletesallycootie(at)gmail(dot)com
We have a nine day period coming up where the only time we eat meat is at the Sabbath meal. This will be a great dinner for one of the nights with leftovers for lunch on another day. I got your new book from the library but would be thrilled to win a copy for my personal collection.
ReplyDeleteExactly the sort of pasta dish I love to make and eat! Thank you. Many years ago I had a recipe for manicotti and I remember it being so delicious. I found the recipe and recently made it again and it wasn't nearly as good, especially for all the work involved. I have no idea why. So disappointing. But I plan to make your stuffed shells very soon. The book sounds very good too! jmpurcel at hotmail dot com
ReplyDeleteA delectable and special pasta dish which I will make for the family. I know that this will be enjoyed. The book sounds captivating. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteMy mother-in-law makes something similar to this for my husband's birthday every year. It's his favorite. I will be using your recipe myself this year! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this wonderful pasta meal which is perfect and tasty. Your book is a real treasure and unique. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteWelcome back to the Kitchen, Heather, and congrats on the new novel!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to making this once the temperature starts to drop!
ReplyDeleteLove pasta - thanks for the recipe!
ReplyDeletejtcgc at yahoo dot com
Oh yum. Lasagna is my favorite pasta, but I definitely want to try these stuffed shells.
ReplyDeleteturtle6422 at gmail dot com
Stuffed shell recipe looks delish.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so good and my hubby and I were just talking something similar to lasagna. I would love to read the book and review sounds so good.ptclayton2@aol.com peggy clayton Thank you also for giving away a print copy as I am disabled and have crippled fingers hubby does 99% of cooking i just do the clean up oh well RSD really limits me.
ReplyDeleteThe recipe sounds great and I’ve heard good things from ARC readers of this book. Legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteLove stuffed shells! Recipe looks delicious. Love reading books set in the South, looking forward to reading "Midnight At The Blackbird Cafe".
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
My family loves lasagna but sometimes it can feel heavy so we choose stuffed shells instead. Thanks for the insight into "Midnight At The Blackbird Cafe." robeader53(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteWelcome today. What a wonderful recipe. Thank you for sharing. Congrats on your new book. This sounds like a wonderful read.
ReplyDeletequilting dash lady at comcast dot net
Love books with recipes. Would like to win this one.
ReplyDeletelibrarylady18@hotmail.com
My kids would LOVE this! And they're picky! Thanks for the recipe. Would love to read your book. Thanks!
ReplyDeletetami.norman@gmail.com
DeletePasta is so versatile! I haven't tried stuffing shells or manicotti or anything in a long time. Yummy results but messy endeavor! I'm looking forward to reading your book.
ReplyDeletepatdupuy@yahoo.com
I love pasta, any and all! I haven't had stuffed shells in so long, now that's all I can think about. Thanks for the recipe. I've heard such good things about this book.
ReplyDeletekozo8989@hotmail.com
I love trying new recipes. Saamm7@msn.com
ReplyDeleteThe shells look good and I know the book is.
ReplyDeletesgiden at Verizon(.)net
I'm going to make it for sure. I'd love to read your book. Thank you for the chance
ReplyDeleteRecipe sounds good, if a little messy when stuffing the shells. :) I think my family would like this.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'd like the book.
donna (dot) durnell (at) sbcglobal (dot) net
My favorite pasta dish is manicotti, but I love stuffed shells, too. Thank you for the recipe and chance to win a copy of your book. cecilialyoung at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteThe shells look delicious and I want to read your book. The cover has been calling to me. lkish77123 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI love stuffed shells and plan to try the recipe. Candykennedy45@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThis recipe is going to be made...by me...soon!! Looks wonderful. I would love to win and read this book. It sounds like a book that I would love. bentleyboy22(at)comcast(dot)net
ReplyDeleteI have a meaty manicotti recipe that I love to make, but my favorite to eat is shrimp scampi (not Red Lobster’s but big shrimp in a garlic butter sauce with angel hair pasta). Your stuffed shells sound fabulous and I’ll give them a try. The book sounds great and I’m adding it to my to be read list. 😊
ReplyDeleteThese look absolutely divine! I adore pasta. Thank you for the easy recipe.
ReplyDeletemagicgirl2357@yahoo.com
We love stuffed shells! They're easy to change up (use chicken and broccoli, Italian sausage and red sauce, taco meat, whatever), and my kids will both eat them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway! bunkielisa (at) gmail (dot) com
Thanks for the recipe will give it a try. Looking forward to your new book. I think we will do pasta tonight!🙂
ReplyDeleteI was looking for a recipe for Christmas that doesn't have meat. This looks like it would work. Looking forward to your book. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWe just got your book, Heather, and I am looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you - I could eat pasta every day and stuffed shells are one of my favorites. Thanks for the chance to win one of your books. trwilliams69 at msn dot com
ReplyDeleteThis is a new author to me! Thanks for the chance to win her book! lindaherold999(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI haven't made stuffed shells in ages. It must be time!
ReplyDeletelibbydodd at comcast dot net
This story line sounds so interesting to me and I definitely want to read this book. Congratulations Heather. I’d rather not leave my email address on this page due to past problems but if I were lucky enough to be chosen please find me on Facebook at Cynthia Bayer Blain. Thank you. C
ReplyDelete