Northern Italian Pasta Shell Stuffing
- 3 packages frozen, chopped spinach
- 3 pounds ground round
- 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
- 2 large onions, chopped
- Grated Parmesan
- Salt and pepper
- 2 jumbo eggs
- 1 (1-pound) package jumbo pasta shells
- 2 cups tomato sauce (your own or ready-made)
- Place frozen spinach in a strainer and run under hot water until thawed.
- Squeeze all of the water out and place in a large bowl.
- In a large saute pan, cook the ground round until browned.
- Drain meat, reserving 2 tablespoons fat in the pan, and place meat in the same bowl with the spinach.
- Stir in the cream cheese until blended with the meat and spinach.
- Saute the chopped onions in the reserved meat fat until transparent.
- Transfer onions to the bowl with the other ingredients and stir to combine.
- Add grated cheese, salt, and pepper, to taste, and combine.
- Let mixture cool and then add the eggs.
- The filling can be made up to 1 day in advance and refrigerated until ready to use.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cook pasta shells in boiling, salted water until al dente.
- Drain and cool to the touch.
- Stuff the shells with the meat mixture.
- Place shells in a large baking pan and cover with tomato sauce.
- Cover with foil and bake for approximately 1 hour.
- Serve.
spinach, ground round, cream cheese, onions, parmesan, salt, jumbo eggs, jumbo pasta, tomato sauce
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/northern-italian-pasta-shell-stuffing-recipe.html (may not work)