Recipe Guest Post - Michelle of Oh, Mishka! (& giveaway winner!)

Hi all! So, I have one last treat for you before we ring in the new year :) Have you ever stopped by Michelle's blog? Have you fallen in love with it like every normal person? Have you totally become addicted? Yeah. Ha. Funny. ME TOO. I asked Michelle if she would like to do a guest post for y'all with a yummy new years eve recipe! And she was so sweet to stop and get one to me for you, even in the midst of JUST GETTING ENGAGED! :) I'm very excited for her, is it obvious?? Here you are, my lovelies! 

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 Hi Ruthanne with an E readers! I'm Michelle and I write the blog Oh, Mishka. Ruthanne asked me to share one of my favorite holiday recipes with you. Since I adore having friends over for a cozy night in for New Year's Eve, I thought I'd share a recipe that is incredibly easy, but looks really impressive at a dinner party. :) These pesto stuffed shells were a huge hit when I made them, and I'm already planning to make them again soon. Even though they look messy (and incredibly unphotogenic!), they're beyond delicious.

  Pesto Stuffed Pasta Shells \

recipe adapted from here 

 1/2 package jumbo shell pasta 

15 oz container of ricotta (I used part skim) 

1 cup shredded mozzarella 

1/2 cup basil pesto 

1 egg 

1 jar pasta sauce 

 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 

 2. In a large pot, cook the pasta. The box will tell you to bring the water to a boil before adding the pasta, and this is important. Otherwise your shells might stick to each other and tear. 

 3. While the pasta is cooking, mix together the ricotta, mozzarella, pesto, and egg in a large bowl. Set aside (or refrigerate) until ready to use.

 4. In a baking dish, spread one cup of the pasta sauce evenly across the bottom. (I used an 8x8 baking dish, but had too many shells left over, so I also filled one of my vintage Pyrex dishes.)

5. When the pasta is cooked, drain it and rinse gently with cold water. Then pick up one pasta shell and fill it with a spoonful of the ricotta mixture. The filling should fill the shell enough that the top is spread open about a half inch (about a spoonful). Place the filled shell on top of the pasta sauce in your baking dish. Continue to do this until all of your shells are filled. 

6. Spread the rest of the pasta sauce evenly across the top of your filled shells. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, then enjoy!

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doesn't it look and sound divine? I'm totally making this soon! Eep! Happy last day of 2011, all!

Xoxo,

 Ruthanne

Also! We have a winner of the My Memories software! Melissa, of Contemporary Dancing! congrats :) Email me when you get the chance and we'll get everything worked out! :)

Happy new years eve!