Pepperoni Stuffed Shells

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pepperonistuffedshells

Stuffed shells are one of my favorite comfort meals. Pasta encasing a bunch of fluffy ricotta and gooey, cheesy goodness? You just can’t go wrong. Not to mention the variations and combinations that you can use to “mix up” your filling is endless.

So, when reached out to me about creating a recipe using their – my mind immediately began brainstorming. And, led me right to the thought of  a pepperoni-studded stuffed shell (say that 3x fast!). All of your favorite flavors in a pizza, but in pasta form. Genius!

Pepperoni is something that I always have on hand in the fridge, it’s a great way to add a little bit of meaty flavor to recipes. I’ll often add it to skillet pastas, or baked pasta dishes…as well as just for snacking purposes. Love having it around for a quick anti-pasta platter when unexpected guests drop in. A few slices of cheese, some pepperoni, maybe a few olives? Bam! Awesome easy appetizer.

But, finding a good-quality pepperoni can be a little bit daunting – to say the least. So many are full of so much fat, by the time you cook it…there’s nothing left. Not the case with .

 is a family-owned company that’s been in business since 1920. Right here in the good, old US of A too! That’s a feat that seems to be harder and harder to come by these days. You can find their products  (ham, pepperoni, bacon) at many retailers nationwide, in various size packaging. With 3 little boys, I can blow through one of their 1-lb bags in no time. It’s a brand I know I can always turn to for quality! Make sure you stop by their recipe page for a bunch of great recipe ideas.

I kept the filling simple: Ricotta, chunks of mozzarella, a little oregano. Placed the whole pepperoni slices into the shells, then stuffed with the ricotta mixture. Baked with my favorite quick marinara sauce and a little extra mozzarella on top. Perfection, I tell ya!

It’s the time of year where we find ourselves turning to comfort foods, and this one is definitely a new favorite in our home. Add it to your menu soon, you won’t regret it!

Pepperoni Stuffed Shells

1 (16 oz ) box jumbo shells
15 oz container ricotta cheese
16 oz mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried oregano
1 (8 oz) package Sugardale pepperoni
1 jar favorite marinara sauce

Cook pasta shells according to directions. Drain and set aside.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In a 9×13 baking dish, spread 1 cup of the marinara sauce on the bottom and set aside.

In a large bowl combine the ricotta, half of the mozzarella, salt, garlic powder, and oregano. Mix until combined.

Line the inside of a pasta shell with 2 pieces of pepperoni. Then stuff with 1 heaping tablespoon of filling. Place in the baking dish. Repeat with remaining shells.

Spread the remaining sauce on top of the shells, and top with remaining mozzarella cheese.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.

Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes until cheese is melted and starting to brown on top.

Let cool for a few minutes before serving.

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What is your favorite comfort meal? Tell me about it in the comments and you will be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card!

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Roasted Vegetable and Chèvre Quiche

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Roasted Vegetable Quiche

This summer was insanely hectic. I feel like it passed it a blur of beaching, boating, and warm summer nights. I wasn’t in the kitchen making new things to share with you as much as I’d like, but now that the days are becoming cooler – it’s my favorite time of year to be in the kitchen. Not to mention it’s the best time of year to work with the bounty that your garden, or local farmers in your area have produced.

I’ve always been passionate about gardening, and particularly varietal history and seed saving. So when the good folks at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello reached out and asked me to share the details on their 10th Annual Heritage Harvest Festival happening this weekend, I was delighted to do so!

Thomas Jefferson championed vegetable cuisine, plant experimentation, and sustainable agriculture. In today’s modern world,  they are continuing that tradition at Monticello – and have been doing so, for many years. They were kind enough to send me a beautiful box of garden goodness fresh from the fields.

monticello

I mean – what an honor. Talk about tasting history! Eggplants (Listadia di Gandia and Black Beauty), Peppers (Marconi and Fish Hots – a variety that was used in seafood houses in my region for hundreds of years), a Green Nutmeg Melon, fresh sesame, and some of their locally made Hickory Syrup and Peach Butter available from their online shop. I can’t thank them enough for sending that box of loveliness my way, it was a real treat!

I ended up tossing the eggplants Marconi peppers with a little olive oil and salt, and added a tomato and some garlic from my dad’s garden for good measure – then roasted. That’s a great way to get out excess moisture, that can lead to soggy situations in whatever dish you’re preparing. Plus, it really intensifies all of the flavor.

Used my favorite pie crust recipe to line my tart pan, and blind bake. Then piled in the roasted vegetable goodness and a rich egg-custard to fill in all the nooks & crannies. And a little goat cheese for good measure. A local farmer has been selling his goat cheese at the farmer’s market here on Chincoteague, and it’s insanely wonderful. Have been enjoying it every chance I can get!

A quick bake for about half an hour, and you’re good to go. Paired with a simple green salad, it’s the perfect meal for this time of year. Could also be made in a pie plate without the crust!

And, if you’re in the vicinity and looking for something to do tomorrow – make sure you check out the Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello. The’ve got a great lineup of speakers, activities for kids, gardening info, seed saving, good eats….they’ll have it all! A great day to get outside and live, breathe, and taste history.

Roasted Vegetable and Chèvre Quiche

1 small eggplant
1 anaheim or poblano pepper
1 tomato, halved
2 cloves garlic
1 pie crust dough (here’s my favorite recipe)
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
1 cup half & half
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
4 oz. goat cheese
olive oil

Preheat oven to 425. Place eggplant, pepper, tomato and garlic on a baking sheet. Drizzle and toss with 1 Tbsp olive oil and a pinch of salt. Place in oven and roast for about 25 minutes. Until vegetables are soft. Let cool slightly and remove the skin from the peppers and tomatoes, and eggplant as well if you desire. Roughly chop, and set aside to cool.

Reduce oven temperature to 375. Line a 9-inch tart pan or pie plate with your crust. Press into the bottom well, making sure to get in the base. Trim the top of the tart pan with a rolling pin, or crimp the edge if you’re using a pie plate. Line with parchment paper and place pie weights or beans inside. Place in the oven to “blind-bake” for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, and remove parchment with weights.

Place crust on a baking sheet. Scatter the roasted vegetables evenly on the bottom of the crust.

In a bowl beat the eggs, egg yolk, half & half, salt and pepper until combined. Pour mixture into the shell.

Break the goat cheese into pieces and scatter that evenly on top of the quiche.

Carefully place in oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, until center is done by still slightly jiggly.

Let cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

 

Shrimp in Tomato-Spinach Cream Sauce

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Shrimp in Tomato-Spinach Cream SauceIt’s getting to be that time of year when we spend a lot of time outside. After a long day out on the boat or at the beach, I always have a hungry crew ready to eat dinner. Often times I’ll plan a dinner around what I have at home, and then swing by the store to pick up a few things to bring it all together.

I live in a pretty remote area here on the Eastern Shore, so a “one stop shop” grocery store is really a blessing during these busy summer months. For me, that place has always been my local Food Lion.

Since they opened around 15 years ago in my small community, they’ve offered the freshest and best selection of produce in the area. They are the only place in a 60-mile radius that I can find fresh bean sprouts for my homemade egg rolls. Or, alfalfa sprouts. Or, any sprouts for that matter!
Fresh Blooms
I also love their small fresh flower section. For just a few dollars, a pretty bouquet really brightens up the dining room table for the week. That’s something else I’ve always had a hard time finding in my rural area, especially in the winter months when I’m not foraging for wildflowers or marsh grasses for centerpieces!

Their MVP Specials are another favorite for me. When we had our first baby and I gave up my job to stay at home, their weekly MVP specials were what I based our meal plans around. Always affordable, without sacrificing quality to do so – how refreshing!

So, when Food Lion reached out to me to share a recipe featuring some fresh finds from their produce section, I was happy to oblige! As I mentioned above, I’m often swinging in to pick up a few fresh components to make a quick dinner after being out in the surf and sun all day.

Food Lion Produce

For these occasions, you can never go wrong with a delicious shrimp pasta. Just a few minutes and a handful of ingredients – and you’ve got a filling and satisfying meal. One that I turn to again and again in the months ahead. And, all of the ingredients are just a quick stop on my way home. How refreshing!

Thank you for making freshness available at such an affordable price, Food Lion!

Shrimp in Tomato & Spinach Cream Sauce

1 pound medium or large shrimp, peeled and de-veined
3 Tbsp butter
1/2 small red onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup white wine (I use dry vermouth)
1 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
4 Roma tomatoes, diced (a small handful reserved for garnish)
2 cups baby spinach
1 pound cooked linguine (or your favorite pasta)
2 scallions, chopped (for garnish)
Kosher salt
Ground black pepper

Cook pasta according to package directions, set aside.

Season shrimp with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Heat butter in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp to skillet, and cook for about 2 minutes. Flip shrimp over and cook for 1 minute more. Remove to plate and set aside.

Add the diced onion and garlic to the pan, saute for a minute or so – until fragrant. Carefully add the white wine, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze, let reduce for around 2 minutes. Add the cream, Parmesan, chopped tomatoes, and spinach. Cook sauce over medium-low heat for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until spinach has wilted completely.

Add the shrimp back to the sauce and simmer for around 3 minutes more. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour the sauce on top of the pasta and toss to combine. Sprinkle with scallions and reserved tomatoes for garnish.

For more great recipes visit the Food Lion Recipe Hub.

What recipes do you love to make with fresh ingredients? Leave a comment for a chance to win a $100 Visa Gift Card. You can use this gift card to shop for delicious fresh ingredients at Food Lion!

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

  1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
  1. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post.
  2. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post.
  3. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected. 

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This sweepstakes runs from 04/18/16 – 05/31/16.

Be sure to visit the Food Lion Brand Page on Blogher where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

The Walk Of Life: March Edition

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2I don’t know if it’s the time shift, or the fact that I often fall asleep on the couch at 8 PM – but I find myself getting up before the sun these past couple months. Have been trying to be a little bit more productive with it. Getting up for a walk or run, snapping a few pictures of the sunrise along the way.

I thought that sharing my favorite photos I’ve snapped in the past month, along with a short blurb about what’s going on would be fun. I’m very fortunate to call such a magical place home, and I thought you guy might enjoy a little taste of that! So, we’ll see how it goes.

1Whiskey sours. This is a funny story! So, last summer I went to this fun blogger event sponsored by  the folks at Maryland Tourism. Local breweries and distillers were on site schmoozing with a variety  of local area bloggers. I got chatting with the folks at Louthan Distilling, who are out of Baltimore – but use grains harvested from the Eastern Shore. I mentioned that I lived on Chincoteague…would you believe the father of the distiller (who is the co-owner) literally have a vacation home one door down from me here on the island? It never ceases to amaze me how small of a world this is!

Naturally – we’ve become great friends. Len & Nancy have been over a couple of times for dinner, and drinks on the porch are quickly becoming a favorite pastime when they’re in town (who am I kidding, that’s always a favorite pastime around here!). The whiskey is phenomenal, wonderful to drink over a bit of ice or to use as a cocktail crafting agent. Santa brought the husband a nice collection of assorted bitters this year, so we’ve been fun experimenting with those!

3My morning walks I mentioned have been getting me a little more off the beaten path lately – which really says something for a girl who’s always got marsh mud stuck between her toes. Often, literally. I love to find a new perspective on things that I view on a daily basis!

4 Or, sometimes I’ll find myself more on the beaten path. Literally. For instance, this boat that’s on the side of the causeway (the long stretch of road over the marsh coming from the mainland to the island). I’ve driven by it a million times, always framing a shot in my mind – but never stopped to take the picture. Finally got around to it a couple weeks ago, and I love it. I need to get out there with my big girl camera soon and take some real photos!

5 Whenever we get a chance we love to take a drive up to the Dogfish Head Brewpub on a weekend for lunch.  It’s still the “off-season”, so they’re not quite as busy as they are in the summer months. The food and beer are always wonderful, and they’re very family friendly – which is a major plus with our crew!

Whenever we go, we always have to try a sampler of their brewpub exclusives – which are brewed in small batches right there at the brewpub. It’s always fun to see some of those brewpub exclusives materialize into beers that they then decide to bottle and distribute!

6 Speaking of good beer…guess who had a recipe in American Homebrewers Association’s Zymurgy this month? This girl! As a homebrewer and avid craft beer lover, this was a huge honor for me. And, if you haven’t made the Beer-Candied Bacon yet…stop reading this and go make it. Like, right now. We’ll wait.

7If you know me in my private life or through my Instagram feed – you’ll know that I’m obsessed with beachcombing – primarily for sea glass. While most of what I find is tumbled glass, which is beautiful – my favorite finds are pieces of pottery that have been broken and worn by the tumbling surf. I love finding something with a pattern or marking, and then tracing it back to what it was in the former life.

Most of  pieces I find are from the 1920’s – 1950’s. I drive about 30 minutes to the Chesapeake Bay side of the Eastern Shore, as I never have much luck here on the ocean side. You never know what the tide will bring in from day to day! On this particular morning I found quite a few blue & white pieces.

8This year during the off-season months our little movie theater has been showing classic films on Friday nights for $5. A couple of weeks ago it was Gone With The Wind. I saw it on the big screen back in 1999 for the 60th anniversary, but couldn’t resist seeing it again.

My girlfriend and I went (I may or may have not smuggled in a little bottle of rum to add to our Cokes) and had a great time. The perfect way to spend a small town Friday night!

9Spring has sprung and these little guys are hatching and crawling all over the island. They’re Diamondback Terrapins – once endangered due to over fishing (they’ll eat anything around here, guys!), and now facing daily dangers of getting caught in crab pots. I try to keep my eyes peeled for them on the road and avoid them when I can. I brake for turtles, y’all!

10The arrival of spring also means that all my favorite spots are opening back up! Sea Star Cafe opened a few weeks ago – my favorite spot for lunch. Always fresh and amazing! Ray’s Shanty – for all my seafood needs (heading there today – shrimp & grits on the menu tonight!). Poseiden’s Pantry – my go-to spot for specialty ingredients and craft beer. And, Saigon Village – a phenomenal little hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese place right up the street. If you’re ever visiting Chincoteague, I highly recommend all of them!