Chicken Stuffed Shells With Tomato Cream Sauce

• 1 lb pasta shells, for prepared stuffing
• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
• salt and pepper
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 5 garlic cloves, chopped (or 1 tbsp jar chopped garlic)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, minced
• 2 stalks celery, minced
• 12 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 1 lb ricotta cheese
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 34 cup grated romano cheese
• 14 cup chopped fresh parsley (or 2 tbsp dry)
• 3 tablespoons fresh basil, julienne (or 1 tsp dry)
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 10 garlic cloves, chopped (or 2 tbsp jar chopped garlic)
• 2 carrots, finely chopped
• 2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes (if you access to some nice tomatoes, you can substitute about 2 lb ripe tomatoes)
• 1 (28 ounce) can tomato puree
• 12 cup red wine
• 14 cup fresh parsley, chopped (or 2 tbsp dried)
• 3 tablespoons fresh basil, julienne (or 2 tsp dry)
• 34 cup heavy cream

1. Cook shells according to package directions.
2. Take 6 minutes off of cooking time.
3. Drain well, cool under cold running water, and toss with a minimal amount of olive oil (or cooking spray) to prevent sticking.
4. Meanwhile, season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper.
5. Cut into small pieces.
6. Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
7. Cook chicken until golden brown on both sides.
8. Drain on paper towels.
9. In same skillet, cook garlic, onion, carrot, celery and red pepper flakes.
10. Cook 5 minutes.
11. Add spinach, and cook 10 minutes more.
12. Season with salt and pepper.
13. Combine chicken and spinach mixture.
14. puree in a food processor or blender.
15. (If you have a small machine, do this in batches.
16. ).
17. In a large bowl, combine ricotta, egg, Romano, parsley and basil.
18. Season with salt and pepper and mix well.
19. Add chicken puree and combine very well.
20. Chill for 30 minutes.
21. Meanwhile, prepare sauce.
22. In a large stockpot, heat 3 tbsp olive oil on medium-high heat.
23. Add onion, garlic and carrot, and saute until onion begins to brown.
24. Add tomatoes and puree.
25. Stir well.
26. Add wine and bring to a boil.
27. Reduce heat to low and let simmer 30 minutes.
28. After 30 minutes, add parsley and basil to sauce, and cook 15 minutes more.
29. Working in batches, puree sauce in blender; return to same pot.
30. (If you have a hand blender, you can use it right in the pot).
31. Add cream and simmer 15 minutes.
32. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
33. Set aside.
34. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a large baking pan well with cooking spray.
35. Place a thin layer of sauce in bottom of baking pan.
36. Stuff shells with chicken mixture.
37. (I find a pastry bag with no tip is ideal for this.
38. If you don't have one, try a demitasse spoon.)
39. Mixture should come to top of shells.
40. Place shells in baking pan in a single layer.
41. When all shells are filled, cover with sauce.
42. Top with grated provolone, and parsley.
43. Bake for 20 minutes.
44. Cheese should be golden and sauce should be bubbly.
45. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.
46. Note:.
47. You can substitute half-and-half, or evaporated skim milk for the cream.
48. The cream sauce can be made up to 2 days ahead.
49. The entire dish can be made ahead of time and frozen (either baked or unbaked).
50. Cover top with plastic wrap then aluminum foil.
51. If unbaked: remove plastic wrap, and re-wrap with foil.
52. Place in a low oven (250 degrees F.) and bake until a knife is easily inserted.
53. Then raise heat to 350 degrees F. and bake as above.
54. If baked: remove plastic wrap and rewrap with foil.
55. Bake at 350 degrees F. until hot.

pasta shells, chicken breasts, salt, olive oil, garlic, onion, carrots, stalks celery, red pepper, fresh spinach, ricotta cheese, egg, romano cheese, parsley, fresh basil, olive oil, onion, garlic, carrots, tomatoes, tomato puree, red wine, fresh parsley, fresh basil, heavy cream

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/chicken-stuffed-shells-with-tomato-cream-sauce-229371 (may not work)