Domesticated Coloradan

It's Official! I'm a Coloradan!  The Iowa plates are gone, and I have my CO drivers license- Now all I need is a job. :) 

Since I have a little extra time on my hands, I've been trying to become more domestic... which includes cooking dinner entrees other than Grilled Cheese and Spaghetti. 

I have been in LOVE with the Iowa Girl Eats blog for the last couple of months... and now I finally tried a couple of her recipes.  

We share same passions in life... EAT well - RUN often - TRAVEL far (I don't know about the running on my end- but I'm trying... maybe it's more like: EAT often - RUN well, try to run - TRAVEL far)

The first recipe I tried is the Stuffed Shells - yum!   If you want good pictures, you'll have to check out IGE ;)  But here's my first shot! 

Ingredients:

1/2 box jumbo shells

1 lb lean ground beef - I used ground turkey

garlic salt, pepper, onion powder, Italian seasoning to taste

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1/3 cup reserved pasta cooking water

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

1 egg

2 cups mozzarella cheese, divided

16 oz marinara sauce

Step by Step:

1.  Cook Shells- directions on box (boil water, add shells, boil for 12-14 minutes)

2.  Brown meat, drain and return to pan.  Stir in Olive Oil, Pasta Cooking Water, Parmesan Cheese, Egg, Seasonings, 1 Cup Mozz Cheese

3.  Cover bottom of baking dish with marinara sauce.  Fill shells with meat mixture and place in dish. 

4.  Cover the stuffed shells with extra marinara sauce and remaining 1 Cup of Mozz Cheese (I might have added more :)

5.  Cover & Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbling.  

Yum! 

On another note... I miss these people:

Before we made the move we had a great going away party hosted by our friends Adam & Elizabeth at Cedar Ridge Winery.  This was one of our favorite places to go in CR.  We had the perfect night out on the patio with wine and apps!  Thanks to everybody that came, we miss you!