Stuffed shells in creamy tomato sauce - country living

6 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
1 tablespoon Olive oil
3 larges (about l1/2 lb) onions, chopped
5 Cloves garlic, chopped
1 can 28-oz crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon Fresh or 1 t dried thyme leaves
1 teaspoon Sugar
½ teaspoon Salt
1 pack (1-lb) large pasta shells
2 10-oz pk fresh spinach
1 pack 3-oz cream cheese, softened
¼ cup Chopped fresh parsley leaves
¼ cup Finely grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup Heavy cream

Directions

1. In large skillet, heat oil over medium heat; add onions and cook until soft and golden-about 7 minutes. Add garlic and cook 3 minutes longer. Transfer two-thirds of onion mixture to food processor fitted with chopping blade or blender and set aside until step 4.

2. Add tomatoes, thyme, sugar, and ½ t salt to onion mixture remaining in skillet; reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, prepare pasta shells following package directions; drain well and spread hot shells on baking sheet to cool.

4. To make filling for shells, stem spinach and rinse in colander. In 8-quart saucepot, cook wet spinach, covered, just until wilted. Return spinach to colander and press to remove excess liquid. Add spinach, cream cheese, parsley, Parmesan cheese, and remaining ¼ t salt to reserved onion mixture in food processor or blender. Process or blend mixture until very smooth.

5. Remove tomato mixture from heat and stir in heavy cream to make sauce; ladle half of sauce into 2½-to 3-quart flame-proof casserole. Fill pasta shells with spinach mixture (a pastry bag fitted with large round tip is recommended for piping the spinach mixture into pasta shells) and place filled shells in sauce. Ladle remaining sauce into spaces between shells, then cover casserole and cook over low heat 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through and bubbly. Serve immediately.

Nutritional information per serving@rotein: 17 grams; fat: 17 grams; carbohydrate: 74 grams; fiber: 9 grams; sodium: 584 milligrams; cholesterol; 45 milligrams; calories: 513. lh Country Living/August/93 Scanned & fixed by DP & GG

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