Pasta Dish to Die For:

This recipe is actually called: Shells with Crispy Pancetta and Spinach. I watched Giada make this the other night and was salivating because it made me sooo hungry. Anyways, this was another one of those recipes that was just sooo good. It cost me about 20 dollars to buy all the ingrediants. Not too bad, a little more than what I would like to spend on a meal for at home but well worth it. Even Kaitlyn ate her whole shell, spinach and everything. Here is the recipe:

Shells:
1 (12-ounce) package jumbo shells pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 pound thick-cut pancetta, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
2 pounds frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta
1 cup grated asiago cheese
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Sauce:
1 tablespoon butter
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup cream
2 cups grated asiago cheese, plus 1/4 cup
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

For the shells:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta.

Warm the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the pancetta and cook until lightly golden, about 5 minutes. Remove the pancetta from the pan with a slotted spoon and transfer to a large bowl. Add the spinach, ricotta cheese, asiago cheese, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir to combine. Stuff the shells with about 2 tablespoons of the spinach mixture each and place the stuffed shells in a large, buttered baking dish.

For the sauce:
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the cream and bring to a simmer. Turn the heat to very low and add the 2 cups asiago cheese, parsley, and pepper. Stir until the cheese is dissolved. Pour the sauce over the shells. Top with the remaining 1/4 cup asiago cheese. Bake until golden on top, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

NOTE: I think it would be really good to add some tomato to the filling. But was very good also just the way it was!!! This dish was just as good as any Macaroni Grill dinner….seriousely!!!

Today me and the kids went to IKEA for lunch and then I checked the kids in to the play area while I shopped. Got to love that place. We bought crickets for the lizard. Went to Tom Thumb….can you tell I just had a way exciting day!!! Tomorrow I am going to waxahachie to visit my sister with the kids. Fun stuff…