Tasty Tuesday: Kids in the Kitchen

Being a good cook or enjoying to cook doesn't mean much unless you pass it on, so from an early age I've had my kids in the kitchen cooking with me. Chipette will even take things out of the oven for me if I'm busy changing diapers!

This week I'm sharing one of the easiest and most kid friendly recipes I have. It also happens to be quite yummy!

Here is what you need to make Easy Stuffed Shells:

1 package frozen Italian meatballs
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 package of jumbo pasta shells (the shells in the picture are not the correct size)
1 cup mozarella cheese

Before we start this recipe I need to tell you that the way we made this is not the correct way. I sent My Man to the store to buy the jumbo shells, but he brought back shells that were a little too small. Not his fault, I just didn't give great instructions. So this recipe is my quick, on the fly, modified version. However, I will be adding the correct recipe instructions where appropriate so buy the huge, jumbo shells and do it right! But it's good either way.

First, boil the shells according to package instructions. For the smaller shells like I used, you boil half of the bag. For the jumbo shells, you only boil about 12-15.
Once the shells are boiled, then you can get the kids involved.

Spray a baking dish with cooking spray, then spread some of the spaghetti sauce in the bottom of the pan.

Next, sprinkle your meatballs in the baking dish. *In the true recipe you stick one meatball inside each boiled jumbo shell.*

Now sprinkle your boiled shells around the meatballs in the pan. *You would place the stuffed shells in the pan.*

Pour the rest of the spaghetti sauce over the shells and meatballs.

Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the spaghetti sauce.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Then you and your kids can enjoy a wonderful, easy to make meal.

But most of all you'll be teaching them that cooking can be fun and easy. It's nothing to be scared of or intimidated by, I promise! Plus if they cook it, they are more likely to eat it :)

Looking forward to one day teaching Monkey to cook like his big sisters in the treehouse,

Chelli