Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Shells

nowadays I’m all about getting the most out of my cooking. i love it when I find a recipe that now not handiest feeds us for 2 nights in a row, but also freezes properly. making an investment time within the kitchen is even greater worthwhile when there may be a huge payoff, and a quick meal that just wishes heating up on a hectic weeknight is a pretty large payoff.

I debated approximately whether or not to scale this recipe down to four servings, however if I did that you’d emerge as with half of a field of jumbo shells, half a container of ricotta, and 1/2 a package of frozen spinach left over. It’s a great deal better (and no extra effort) to move in advance and stuff the full box of shells, and have leftover shells for your freezer for busy days.

INGREDIENTS:

• 10 ounce box frozen chopped spinach
• 12 ounce package jumbo shells
• 15 ounces part-skim ricotta cheese
• 1 ½ cups cottage cheese
• 1 ½ cups (6 ounces) grated mozzarella cheese, divided
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 25 ounce jar of your favorite marinara sauce

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. deliver a large pot of water to a boil. upload 1 teaspoon salt and the jumbo shells. cook in keeping with package deal guidelines for al dente. Be cautious not to overcook the shells or they'll disintegrate as you fill them. Drain and area on a parchment-coated baking sheet to cool.
2. meanwhile, defrost the spinach within the microwave. the usage of a easy kitchen towel, wring out the excess liquid. Set apart.
3. Preheat oven to 350 tiers F.
4. In a medium bowl stir collectively the ricotta, cottage cheese, half of of the grated mozzarella, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Stir inside the spinach.
5. Scoop the filling into the shells and place in a baking dish. (Any length will work- I commonly element the shells out into some baking dishes consistent with what number of my circle of relatives will devour according to meal. directions for freezing greater shells are beneath.)
6. Pour the marinara sauce over the pinnacle, and sprinkle with the last mozzarella cheese. cover with foil and bake for 20 mins; find and bake for 5 mins more till cheese is melted and shells are warm. Serve right now.
7. Make ahead commands:
8. Shells can be prepared as much as the baking step an afternoon in advance. cowl and refrigerate till equipped to bake and serve. you can ought to add 5 mins to the baking time for refrigerated shells.
9. instead, you may freeze unbaked shells for up to 2 months. cowl with plastic wrap, pressing it down close to the shells. cowl with a lid and then place in freezer. Thaw inside the refrigerator for an afternoon before baking as directed above.

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