Eat it up: Spinach-Stuffed Shells

This is the second of two recipes from the July/August 2006 edition of Simple & Delicious. These recipes that I am sharing have been tried and approved by my family. I have made them more than once. This means that my husband likes them and the kids will eat them. (Small issue with the 5 year old and spinach.) Both the enchiladas and stuffed shells are recipes that I made in the morning, put in the fridge and then popped in the oven right before dinner.

Spinach-Stuffed Shells from Debbie Herbert

15 uncooked jumbo pasta shells
1 envelope white sauce mix (I used a package of Alfredo sauce since I couldn't find white sauce at my grocery store or you could make your own white sauce.)
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 egg
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 package fresh spinach
1 tbs. shredded Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, prepare white sauce according to package directions, set aside. Cook spinach, drain and set aside.
In a bowl, combine the cottage cheese, mozzarella, egg, basil, garlic powder, pepper and spinach. Pour half the white sauce into a greased 8x8 inch baking dish.
Drain pasta; stuff each shell with 2 tbs. spinach mixture. Arrange over sauce. Top with remaining white sauce. Cover and bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Yield: 5 Servings.

Rope Swing

We love going to the lake and using this rope swing that someone fastened in a tree that grows out over the lake.

Eat it Up

This recipe is from a magazine called Taste of Home Simple & Delicious. I have had a subscription to this magazine since 2006 and it still saves the day, on many occasions. I keep all my copies in the pantry next to my cookbooks and when I am stumped for dinner ideas I pull out all the old copies of whatever the current month happens to be. For example, the magazine comes only six times a year, so if it is August, I pull out July/August copies from 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, and 2006. Then I pick my favorite recipes and make a shopping list for the week. Some times I don't really like any of the recipes in an issue and other times I find myself making recipe after recipe of a certain issue. It happens that the July/August issue of 2006 is one of my favorites. Here is a link to the website with archives of recipes from past issues, but the archives only go to 2007. The best features about this magazine is that they have minimal advertisements in their publications. There may be one or two ads in the entire thing. My other favorite part is that they have a picture of every recipe. I need pictures. I will share a couple favorite recipes from the July/August 2006 issue with you.

Easy Chicken Enchiladas from Kristi Black
1 can (10 ounces) enchilada sauce, divided
4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
1 1/2 cups salsa
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 can (15 1/2 ounces) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
10 flour tortillas
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Mexican cheese blend
Shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, sour cream and sliced ripe olives, optional

Spoon 1/2 cup enchilada sauce into a greased 13in.x 9in.x 2in. baking dish. In a large saucepan, cook and stir the cream cheese and salsa over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until blended. Stir in the chicken, beans, and chilies.
Place about 6 tablespoons of chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll up and place seam side down over sauce. Top with remaining enchilada sauce; sprinkle with cheese.
Cover and Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes or until heated through. Serve with lettuce, tomato, sour cream and olives if desired. Yield: 5 servings.

Everyday Beauty

Photo # 27. An old dead tree near the North Twin Lake.

Card made with love.

Supplies: Stickers: Jolee's Boutique; Paper: My Mind's Eye, Deena's Penny Lane and Tiny Dancer 'Chasse" Graceful Circles Paper; Ribbon: recycled from a birthday package.

Will it make you happy?

I found this article in the New York Times.  I wanted to remember it, so I am leaving the link here on my blog so I can find it again.  Will It Make You Happy?

Dog days of summer!

My dog is very protective of her family. She growls at strangers and barks at cars that come in our driveway. She loves to chase anything that will run. Lately the magpies have been gathering round the dog dish in the morning, they chatter and tease her, and then steal her dog food. One magpie will lead her on a wild chase while the other closes in for the steal. I guess I can't blame her for chasing fowl birds. They would get on my nerves too. That doesn't excuse her for her poor behavior today. She should know better than to chase innocent chickens.