Stuffed Shells

Stuffed Shells

I love this recipe! It's so yummy and full of flavor. I swear in a past life I was Italian. Check out the recipe. You will love it too, I promise.

 

Ingredients

• 1  package jumbo pasta shells
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 (32 ounce) container ricotta cheese
• 1 pound shredded Mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese
• 8 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon Mrs Dash Italian seasoning
• 2 generous shakes Lawry's seasoning salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1  jar pasta sauce (I prefer Prego )

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F .
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
3. In a large bowl, mix eggs, ricotta, half the mozzarella or monteray, half parmesan, italian seasoning, garlic powder, seasoning salt and pepper until well combined. 
4. Spread bottom of baking dish with pasta sauce then stuff cooked shells with ricotta mixture, carefully placing them in baking dish.
5. Sprinkle shells with remaining cheese and pour pasta sauce over stuffed shells and add a little more italian seasoning.
6. Bake in preheated oven 45 to 60 minutes, until edges are bubbly and shells are slightly set.

Happy Martin Luther King Day

Martin Luther King Jr

As a person of color today I have the ability to be anything I want to be. And I mean anything! Because of Dr. Martin Luther King.
His life was taken from him simply because he was a black man who wanted better for himself and his people. "Equality for all", was one of his motto's. So today I celebrate, with everyone regardless of class, color or creed for a man who was a dreamer, and an inspiration.
Happy MLK Day!

Corn Soup

Its fuuuuureezing outside! And whats one of the best winter warm up foods? Soup of course!

I was craving some corn soup the other day, which i first became au fait with at Trinidad carnival a few years ago. So i whipped up this tasty and fulfilling soup and decided to share the recipe with you all.

Ingredients:

Servings Size

• 
  

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 onions chopped
• garlic seasoning
• 4 carrots diced
• 1/4 cup celery chopped
• 3/4 cup yellow split peas
• 8 cups chicken water
• 1 scotch bonnet pepper left whole
• 1 can coconut milk
• 6 ears corn
• Lawry's Seasoning salt
• Salt (to taste)
• Black pepper
• 4 chicken bullion cubes

 Directions

1. In medium pot boil water with bullion cubes.
2.  Remove the kernels from three ears of corn. Set aside. Slice the remaining ears of corn into thick rounds and set aside.
3. In another large soup pot heat oil, and add onions, carrots, celery, and cook for about 5 mins stirring constantly
4. Add garlic powder, seasoning salt and black pepper and saute until fragrant.
5. Add the kernels and split peas.
6. Once bullion water is boiled and veggies are properly sauted, Combine bullion stock with veggies.
7. Add salt and black pepper to taste.
8. Add the scotch bonnet pepper and coconut milk and corn rounds.
9. Cover the pot and simmer for about an hour until peas are soft.

FELA!

It was a long Christmas. Being away from family and friends sucked! However, one of the high points of the holiday season was my chance to watch the Jay-Z, Jada and Will Smith produced Fela on Broadway, before its scheduled finale last night.
Truth be told this was my first Broadway show, but trust, because of Fela i think even with the high price tag i will be a regular.
Fela for those who don't know is based on Nigerian musician and activist Fela Kuti, and featured Patti Labelle who played his mother Funmilayo.
The rhythmic melodies provided by an incredible cast and band had me continually dancing in my seat. At one point the whole audience hopped out of their seats to shake their groove things. Definitely what i call a damn good time!
Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Sting, Madonna (twice), Beyoncé (naturally), Mick Jagger, Aretha Franklin, The Edge, Bruce Springsteen, Prince, Denzel Washington, Usher, John Legend and Spike Lee have all seen and raved about Fela. I wonder if they got out of their seats to dance too? Nonetheless Happy New Year to all! 2011 is going to be spectacular.