Favorite Fall Recipe Number Two ~ Pumpkin Stuffed Shells

This is one of our very favorite autumn meals. I have posted this recipe many times before, but in case you have missed it, here it is. Please don't be afraid of the pumpkin. It is so subtle but adds just enough to make these shells even more delicious.

Pumpkin Stuffed Shells

Ingredients:

1. 1 box pasta shells, cooked, drained, and rinsed in cold water
2. 1 can ( 15 oz. ) Libby's pumpkin
3. 2 cups ricotta cheese and yes, use the whole milk ricotta : )
4. 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese...and more to sprinkle on top
5. 1 egg
6. 3 garlic cloves, minced or the garlic powder equivalent if you forgot to buy them like I did.
7. Dash of salt and pepper
8. 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
9. 1 45 oz. jar of pasta sauce. We use Tomato Basil.

Directions:

1. Cook shells according to directions...and then drain and rinse.
2. Grease two 13x9 baking dishes and pour some sauce on the bottom.
3. Mix pumpkin, cheeses, egg, garlic, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
4. Stuff each shell with pumpkin mixture and place in baking dish.
5. Cover with remaining sauce.
6. Cover with foil, and bake for 30 minutes in a 350-degree oven.
7. Uncover, sprinkle with more Parmesan cheese, and bake for 15 more minutes.

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Stuffed Shells

Now don't get scared...they are really good...I promise!!!! We love anything pumpkin around here, and when Madison found a few pictures of these on Pinterest, I knew we would have to try them. They are delicious! And simple. And comforting. Now, I had to change up the original recipes Madison found, as they were a little too "fancy" for us. I made them a bit more family friendly...and to answer the most asked question...no...they don't scream pumpkin. It is more like an extra flavor and texture in there. So here it is...please give it a try!

Pumpkin Stuffed Shells

Ingredients:

1. 1 box pasta shells, cooked, drained, and rinsed in cold water
2. 1 can ( 15 oz. ) canned pumpkin
3. 2 cups ricotta cheese  and yes, use the whole milk ricotta : )
4. 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese...and more to sprinkle on top
5. 1 egg
6. 3 garlic cloves, minced or the garlic powder equivalent if you forgot to buy them like I did...
7. Dash of salt and pepper
8. 1 large jar of pasta sauce...I like Tomato Basil...

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook shells according to directions...and then drain and rinse.
3. Spray 13x9 baking dish with Pam and pour some sauce on bottom.
4. Mix pumpkin, cheeses, egg, garlic, salt, and pepper.
5. Stuff each shell with pumpkin mixture and place in baking dish.
6. Cover with remaining sauce.
7. Cover with foil, and bake for 30 minutes.
8. Uncover, sprinkle with more Parmesan cheese, and bake for 10 more minutwes.
9. Enjoy with garlic bread!



A Cozy Autumn Meal

A cozy autumn evening calls for a cozy autumn supper. I posted this recipe before, but it is just that good. Don't be scared of the pumpkin; it is very subtle. Promise!

Pumpkin Stuffed Shells

Ingredients:

1. 1 box pasta shells, cooked, drained, and rinsed in cold water
2. 1 can ( 15 oz. ) canned pumpkin
3. 2 cups ricotta cheese  and yes, use the whole milk ricotta : )
4. 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese...and more to sprinkle on top
5. 1 egg
6. 3 garlic cloves, minced or the garlic powder equivalent if you forgot to buy them like I did...
7. Dash of salt and pepper
8. 1 large jar of pasta sauce...I like Tomato Basil...

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook shells according to directions...and then drain and rinse.
3. Spray 13x9 baking dish with Pam and pour some sauce on the bottom.
4. Mix pumpkin, cheeses, egg, garlic, salt, and pepper.
5. Stuff each shell with pumpkin mixture and place in baking dish.
6. Cover with remaining sauce.
7. Cover with foil, and bake for 30 minutes.
8. Uncover, sprinkle with more Parmesan cheese, and bake for 10 more minutes.

Peyton made the best Autumn cake for dessert. And even better, it was from a box! I found it at Walmart, and it was delicious. She did make her homemade Buttercream Icing, though. Because. Canned icing. Enough said.

Happy Autumn!

Friday Photos And Pumpkin Pasta!

Good Friday morning, my friends! How was your week? Our week was gloriously ordinary and ordinarily glorious. Flynn and I did homeschool, Steve ran errands, made phone calls, and worked on the list of things he never had time to do before. We cooked a delicious meal with produce from the farmer's market and played our favorite Halloween game. 

Guess who ended up with the Old Mummy ??

Mocha is proud to be our middle school mascot.

Breakfast one day this week: Cheddar cheese on baguette bread and fresh fruit. 

Something that made me happy this week? Getting these photos from my girls. They continued our pumpkin patch tradition! Even though Peyton grew her own perfect pumpkins, they went and had a blast! Afterward, they went to Peyton's for dinner. She made pumpkin stuffed shells, homemade dinner rolls, and this fantastic pie...

Another thing that made me happy this week was talking to this wonderful woman I am blessed to call Mom. Thanks to my sister Margie, who goes every day at dinnertime and calls me while she's there, I can talk to her every day. I love her so much.

Finally, my blog friend Ginny, who writes HERE, asked about the recipe for Madison's delicious-looking pasta I posted the other day. I texted Madison, and she was so happy to share. 

• 1 box of rigatoni 
• drizzle of olive oil
• 4 ounces of prosciutto sliced thin
• dried or fresh thyme
• 1 shallot, diced
• splash of white wine or chicken broth
• 1 15-ounce can of pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 1 1/4 cups half-and-half
• salt and pepper 
• 1/2 cup of goat cheese crumbles plus more for serving (can also use Parmesan)
• chopped chives
• 1 - 2 cups of reserved pasta water

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil, add salt, and cook the pasta. Once cooked, ladle out some pasta water and set it aside.
2. While the pasta is cooking, heat up a drizzle of olive oil in a pot on medium-low heat. (I used my Dutch oven.) Add prosciutto and stir often. Cook until it is crispy, and set it aside on a plate. 
3. In the same pot, add the diced shallot and thyme. (You may need to add a bit more olive oil.) Cook until the shallot is translucent. Deglaze the pot with a splash of white wine, chicken broth, or even just a bit of water. Use whatever you have! 
4. Add the can of pumpkin, half and half, and salt and pepper to taste. Whisk continuously until it begins to simmer. Depending on how thick the sauce is, add some pasta water along with the goat cheese and whisk until combined. 
5. Add the strained pasta to the pot and toss it in the sauce. Add more pasta water if the sauce is still too thick. (It should be similar to the consistency of a tomato sauce but not too watery.) Allow the pasta to cook a minute or two more in the sauce. 
6. Spoon the pasta onto a plate and top with goat cheese crumbles, chopped chives, and crispy prosciutto. Add salt and pepper if you'd like, but remember that the prosciutto is already quite salty! 

I hope you have a lovely October weekend. I am patiently waiting for the leaves to change color here, and I hope they will soon! Thanks for visiting. I am always thankful you do!

BillieJo

Friday!

Hello! I am coming to you from chilly Pennsylvania! We are having a nice time and getting some things done! My doctor's appointment went well —just a regular visit —and the dentist is over, so there is that. Flynn is still cavity-free, which means our streak of no cavities for all four of my children continues! Yay!

We went to the pumpkin patch with Peyton and Chris, then to their house for dinner. Peyton made one of our favorite family recipes: pumpkin-stuffed shells. They were delicious! She somehow makes them even better! She made the most delicious dessert, too. It was Chocolate Cobbler, and it was as good as it sounds. 

Me: So happy to be on my way to Peyton's!

Steve and I also went to visit my dear friend Delane, whom I have known for over twenty-five years! She is seventy-six years old, and I struggle to keep up with her! She always sends me recipes and ideas for the kids, and we love her so. After that, we took takeout to Heather and Dave's and had a great visit, watched The Golden Bachelor, and ate carrot cake and peanut butter pie that she made for both of our birthdays! 

Flynn and I have done some schoolwork, and now I am relaxing by the fire! Happy Weekend, my friends! 

Billie Jo

Random Photo Friday

I just love this month. The weeks are passing quickly, but we are enjoying each and every October moment as best as we can. This is a look back at the past week here in our autumn home.

The girls and I had some time before Mass last weekend to enjoy the beautiful October weather...

And then we took a selfie and met my mom and sister for dinner at Pizza Hut, while the guys did whatever it is they do up at camp. : )

A few days later, we woke to find that this little guy had made his first visit of the year!

And my littlest was thrilled to get outside and see it!

So that is what we did.

And yes. 

That would be my girl in Halloween pajamas, a winter hat and gloves, and flip flops. 

Real life here, friends. : )

It was chilly enough for a cozy morning of coffee by the fireplace.

Bliss.

I got a cut and color too.

Doesn't that just make you feel so much better?

My mom came for a visit and spent the night.

It is always a happy time when Grandma comes!

Peyton made these delicious Pumpkin Stuffed Shells.

I posted the recipe here, if you want to try them.

She also made some delicious chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

My sweet mother needed to head home early the next morning, as Thursday is her busy day!

She helps in the Senior Center Kitchen before lunch, then she plays cards in the afternoon, and Bingo in the evening! 

She is amazing. : )

And speaking of amazing, my firstborn is currently exploring the world with her Nicolas and his amazing family. This week they were in Greece, and will soon travel to Italy. Madison is so happy and is looking forward to visiting the place where her great-grandfather Leo was born. Nicolas' mother sent me these beautiful photos, and she told me to look closely at the last one. : )

Last week was all about bats in our little schoolroom.

They are actually very interesting creatures.

But I think this little lady is much cuter!

Flynn and I paid a visit to our beautiful church one morning.

We are studying the virtue of Reverence, and we practiced and then we prayed.

And can I add, our pastor creates the most amazing altar decor every season.

Lastly, we are praying a decade of the rosary every morning before school during the month of October, and today Flynn asked to pray an extra one for her Grandma Flo. : )

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!

Ours involves a trip to visit Grandma Flo, Mass, and a Steeler game...in person for some...on the couch with pizza for others...and some quiet cozy time together.

I hope yours is exactly the way you want it to be, spent with the ones you love.

Thanks for visiting!