Monday, January 24, 2011

No Win, New Recipe



I'm guessing our chili cook off at church on Sunday had at least 25 entries. Let me just start by saying that I did not win first place.......nor second.......or third. 

Kiss off cook off!

Just kidding.

I was actually pleasantly surprised at all the great combinations of chili. Chicken chili, beef chili, pork chili, and the two vegetarian chili's. The turn out was huge and most important was gathering together for family community. 


No win this year but watch out next year. I'm coming home with more than someone else's crock pot lid and far to much fiber.




After breaking all my nails this morning scraping off the chili crusties from my crock pot, I decided I really needed to change things up a bit so tonight's meal would not resemble last weeks class of food.


Why do I always say tonight's meal.


Don't answer that!


This week will be a bit of a hodge-podge of recipes and I just might say.......this mornings meal.......or, for lunch today.


Back to.......tonights meal.




What could it be.........















Chicken stuffed shells with
Alfredo thyme sauce


Ingredients

3 chicken breasts roasted and shredded
3 cups fresh spinach(if using frozen, use one box and squeeze all the water out)
1 pint of heavy cream
1 stick unsalted butter
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups Parmesan cheese, grated
1 tsp fresh thyme
handful of fresh parsley
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper(or to taste)
15 Jumbo shells
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
salt and pepper


Directions


Preheat oven to 350


Start by cooking pasta shells in boiling water for 12 minutes. Drain, but do not rinse and lay out on baking sheet to keep separated.


Meanwhile, melt and saute garlic in large heavy bottom pan set on medium heat. When butter is melted add cream. When cream begins to boil add a cup of Parmesan cheese; reduce heat to simmer and add thyme, cayenne, salt and pepper. Let simmer for 15 minutes. 


When sauce is slightly thickened add parsley and remove from heat. (taste at this point to make sure you don't need more salt)


In a large bowl put spinach, chicken and the remaining 1 cup of Parmesan cheese. Stir together and add 1/4 cup sauce.


Fill 15 shells with mixture to the brim. You want them to be nice and tight and full.
Set filled shells in whatever dish you have to fit 15 shells sprayed with cooking spray.
Pour the rest of the Alfredo thyme sauce over the top and sprinkle with panko crumbs. Bake for 20 minutes or until top is a little golden brown. Serves 3-4




Note: I double the recipe when I have friends over, but you could do it anyway and freeze the rest.































Maybe I should have taken this to the kiss cook off.





19 comments:

  1. Brilliant Ang! Looks so good and I can only imagine it tasted awesome!

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  2. Those look amazing! Love your use of thyme

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  3. Looks fab Ang:) Love the pics and this recipe looks so comforting!

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  4. That looks awesome--one of my absolute favorite kinds of meals! Now I want stuffed shells.

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  5. What a fantastic meal!! Those faces are adorable.

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  6. I've been thinking I should stuff some shells for the girls one of these days.

    Can't wait to see you Thursday!!!

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  7. That alfredo sauce sounds amazing, great job!

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  8. Looks fabulous! I haven't made a stuffed pasta for ages!....hmmm.......

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  9. Those look amazing! I usually make stuffed shells with a tomato sauce, but alfredo sounds amazing in them! Definitely going to have to try this recipe!

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  10. Sorry no win! The chili sounded wonderful, so do these shells! One tip for you, crock pot liners, I don't know what I'd do without them now! He He
    Have a great week.
    -Gina-

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  11. @whatsfordinner-acrossstatelinesI haven't heard of such a thing. I'll look in to it. Thanks!

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  12. Ang, I have never made stuffed shells before. The alfredo sauce sounds like a good combination with the chicken. Now I want to make this.

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  13. Wow these stuffed shells look amazing! My mouth is watering. I've had a box of stuffed shells sitting in my cupboard for a while, so I def need to try this!

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  14. Awww - sorry you didn't win. Your chili recipes all looked great to me. Great post though and your dinner this week looks so tasty!!

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  15. I'm sorry you didn't win...but there is always next year! And what a beautiful plate of stuffed shells. Yum! Thank you for sharing with me today. I appreciate you and your creative spirit!

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  16. @MonetThanks for the sympathy ya all. I think I'm done crying about it. :):)

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  17. I would definitely leave an empty plate, too, if that was my dinner. What a great dish!!

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  18. Those church taste testers just don't know good chili! Although really, if there was a pasta cookoff, you'd have it in the bag with these shells! :)

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