Spinach and Chicken stuffed Shells

This is what Our dinner looked like tonight!

Needless to say For having a husband who does NOT like spinach at all He ate this like it was the best thing on earth!

Estimation wise, I would say with a salad and maybe a slice of garlic bread i'm pretty sure it could feed between 6-8 people. 

Ingredients:

1 box of Jumbo pasta shells

1 32oz can of crushed tomatoes

1 32 oz can of tomato sauce

1 1/4-1/2 jar of Italian seasonings

1 lb Ground Chicken

1 container of ricotta

1 bag (small) of mozzarella cheese

3 eggs

salt, pepper & garlic to taste.

10 oz of frozen spinach

Directions:

Bring water to a boil with salt added and a touch of olive oil(or cooking spray) placed in the water.

When water reaches a full boil, add in the shells a few at a time making sure to stir to keep them from sticking. 

Boil for appx. 15 mins stirring off and on to continue to keep them from sticking together. When al dente, Drain in a strainer and rinse under cold water until cool to the touch. Set aside.

Spray a frying pan with non stick cooking spray and heat up. Add the (thawed) ground chicken, season with salt pepper and garlic. Break it up with a spatula as you would any other ground meat. :) There should be no need to drain because ground chicken is very lean.

While chicken is cooking.......

Place in a sauce pan, add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce and Italian seasonings ( to your liking) allow it to simmer for several minutes(if you do not want to make "home made" sauce Skip this step and use a jarred sauce)

Take your frozen spinach, place in strainer and rinse with water til thawed. Precede to squeeze the water out. 

Now, you make the "GUTS" to the shells. Mix the ricotta, ground chicken, Spinach eggs and mozzarella. add salt and pepper to your liking.

Grab a baking dish and spray with non stick cooking spray. 

I opened up the shells by squeezing the pointed ends, so that it opened up like a plastic coin purse.

Spoon in the "guts" till stuffed to your liking, ( i used a fork while making this and totally didn't think about judging how many spoons i would of used.)

Places the stuffed shells in the baking dish cover with sauce. Bake at  375* for about 30 to 40 mins. 

I had a lil extra sauce left over which was nice Because I could cut back on the amount in the pan but still Let my hubby add extra to the sauciness he liked =) 

Must of been a decent recipe Because my picky husband and our 11 month old twins ate a ton!!!!

This made for me appx........33 stuffed shells. Defiantly plenty to feed a hungry and growing family =)

 If i am correct (cause i might of messed up the adding all of it on spark recipes to get the correct calculation) If you use this to feed just 6 people it comes to about 575 cals a serving. I believe it could definitely feed 8 and that comes to 431 cals a serving (but that's also with me calculating in onion and bell pepper being sauteed  and added to the sauce. which does not add much)

ANd now lookie!!! I have finally posted a blog about food i have cooked! YAY ME!!!! =)
please comment and let me know if you have tried this and enjoyed it!!! Bon appetit!!

Basic Spices and Staples

Spices are the basis of everything I cook.  If I did not have Spices I would probably just Kill over of a heart attack. OK, That is a little over kill, but is really is the way I feel about having spices. I never use anything like Onion salt, Garlic salt.....etc


So, These  are the spices and seasonings that are actually in my kitchen Cabinet:



Baking soda
Baking Powder
Balsamic vinegar 
Ground Ginger
Ground Nutmeg
Ground sage (i have two and i dont know why)
Paprika (have three of these but i love love love it!)
Poultry seasoning
apple pie spice (why? I am unsure i just spice my pies my self any how) 
Dill Seed
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Chili powder(times 2 I use it a lot!)
Ground Cloves(have two?! Unsure why!)
Whole cloves( i use these in presentations and drinks)
Ground Cinnamon (this i have so many of but i use it so very much!)
Black Pepper (which i have in 3 varieties whole  restaurant ground and fine ground)
Parsley flakes
Cayenne pepper
hot madras curry powder
ground comino ( aka cumin)
Garlic Powder
Tony's
Uncle Chris' steak seasonings
fajita seasonings
crushed red pepers
lemmon pepper
enchilada seasonings
fiesta lime
rosemary
soul food( not sure why cause i dont seem to use it much)
tomato basil garlic (great on veggies and other stuff)
barbecue
And Bullions( beef, Chicken, Shrimp & Chipotle) 
Sea Salt
Vanilla






And In the Fridge we have:
Parmesan cheese
 tobasco- habanero
tobasco  milder jalapeno 
reduced sodium soy sauce
sweet n sour
teriyaki
worcestershire sauce
pure sesame seed oil
 liquid smoke
sriracha hot chili sauce
franks red wins sauce 
concord jelly 
peperoncin peppers
hot sauce
italian dressings




I usually have onion powder too, But I have been keeping frozen Chopped  Onion and Bell pepper in the freezer...........
Oh and yes WE have to keep a note in our mind that the Holy Trinity In cooking is Onion, bell pepper and Celery! 
Garlic i have on hand at the moment is also fresh minced in the Fridge, whole fresh, and Ground. Lets just say I have a love of Garlic.


Since this is just about basic spices, Everything I cook meat wise  will always have a base of salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. 


Just that is almost enough for me!




Well, Now that you know what I have on hand for seasonings and flavors ;) I will let you think about it and I guess see if anyone would have any questions as to why i have these?  =) 
So far I really have not found a flavor that i don't like, well, other than greens hahaha. But I am working on powering through not liking them so that The Twins Do like them! 




And Since this is My First blog Under "Cooking Healthy with Twinspirations", Let me explain the Purpose of this blog.


I am a mother of twins, who is trying to get back to her healthy Goal weight after gaining 99 lbs during a very very strict bedrest filled pregnancy.  The boys are 11 months now, and Really Since they eat what we eat, they are my Inspirations, My TWinspirations,  The reason, to live life to the fullest, To love like there is no other way, and to Stop and take in every moment possible.  So, Cooking and healthy cooking with them every day is what i aspire to do. They will be raised knowing how to eat right and how to fight off the diabetes and other conditions that run in our families. 
So, Welcome To Cooking Healthy with TWinspirations. 
I hope you will find things in the future that will help you lead a health conscious life and learn to enjoy every moment of food, from the cooking, and aroma to the sitting at a table and enjoying every bite!
Here's wishing you health and love in every bite! =)
Jessica