Zucchini And Shells Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Trim ends from zucchini and half each length-wise. Scoop out flesh of zucchini; dice. Arrange zucchini shells into a baking dish.
• Heat olive oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion, mushrooms, and garlic in hot oil until the onion is tender, 5 to 7 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
• Stir diced zucchini flesh into the onion mixture; cook and stir until hot, about 5 minutes. Spoon zucchini mixture into the shells in the baking dish; top each with 1 tablespoon each feta cheese and Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven until the zucchini shells are soft, 30 to 40 minutes.

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add beef; cook for 4 minutes, stirring to break up lumps. Increase heat to medium-high. Add taco seasoning and salt; cook, stirring often, until meat is browned, about 2 minutes more. Stir in tomatoes, beans, corn, and water; bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in zucchini. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, covered, until zucchini is just tender, about 3 minutes. Divide among 4 bowls. Top servings with cheese and green onion.

Steps:

• FILLING: Melt butter over medium heat in a large, heavy dutch oven.
• Add onions& garlic; cook until onions are tender& wilted, stirring occasionally.
• PREPARE ZUCCHINI: Wash well, taste a bit of the skin from each& peel only if it tastes bitter.
• Grate& place in a colander in the sink.
• sprinkle with about 2 tsps of salt& let excess liquid drain for 30 minutes.
• Rinse with cold water to remove most of the salt& then toss on a clean tea towel (or paper towels) to dry before cooking.
• Add drained zucchini to dutch oven& cook until any moisture evaporates.
• PREPARE SPINACH: Wash well& trim off tough stems.
• Place leaves, with water from washing still clinging to them, in a large pot.
• Cook for a few minutes or just until leaves have wilted.
• Let cool, then wring dry in a clean tea towel& chop.
• Add spinach to the dutch oven and combine thoroughly.
• Remove from heat& allow the mixture to cool.
• Drain off excess liquid.
• Beat eggs in a medium sized bowl; add ricotta& beat until smooth.
• Add Parmesan and seasonings; mix well.
• Combine with vegetable mixture in the dutch oven, mix thoroughly; set aside.
• SAUCE: Melt butter in large, heavy pot; cook onions& garlic until tender and wilted.
• Add tomatoes, including their liquid, breaking up the tomatoes with a wooden spoon.
• Cook for 30- 45 minutes or until sauce has thickened.
• Purée and test for seasonings.
• Set aside.
• Pasta: Cook shells in a large pot of salted water, according to package directions until"el dente".
• Drain well and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and prevent sticking.
• Using a colander, gently shake shells to drain excess water.
• Lightly grease a 13 x 9 inch casserole dish.
• Spoon some of the filling into each shell& arrange, stuffed side up, in the casserole dish.
• Pour sauce over the shells& sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• (If you can only find small shells, just layer them on the bottom of the casserole dish, cover with a layer of filling, a layer of sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan).
• Bake at 350°F for 40-50 minutes or until heated through and bubbling.