PB N J Gourmet

Cherry Banana Pancakes

2011-02-26T09:08:00.000-08:00

Here is a delicious recipe for pancakes.

Today I used a different base pancake recipe: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Fluffy-Pancakes-2/Detail.aspx

Original Recipe:

3/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter, melted

My Cherry Banana Pancakes:

3/4 cup almond milk

2 tablespoons white vinegar

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup wheat flour

2 tablespoons white sugar

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 egg

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup of pureed cherries

1 banana chopped into small pieces

Mix together almond milk and vinegar and set aside for 5 minutes
Heat electric skillet to 300 degrees
Mix together flour, wheat flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon
Add egg, vanilla, butter, and milk mixture and mix until lumps are gone
Fold in cherries and banana chunks
Cook on greased skillet and enjoy!

Mango Salsa

2011-02-24T20:24:00.000-08:00

Here is a yummy salsa recipe made with fresh ingredients!

Yields: 2 servings

1 mango
1 Serrano pepper
2 plum tomatoes
1 tbsp - finely chopped red onion
2 tbsp - chopped cilantro
Salt
Garlic powder
Chili powder
Cayenne

Peel and chop the mango into small chunks
Cut the ends of the Serrano and slice it in half. Remove the seeds and finely chop into small pieces
Cut the plum tomatoes into small chunks
Add mango, Serrano pepper, tomatoes, red onion and cilantro in a bowl and mix well with a spoon
Sprinkle the mixture with salt, garlic powder, chili powder and a very small dash of cayenne
Mix well and serve

Sweet and Creamy Coleslaw

2011-02-20T18:59:00.000-08:00

Here is a simple recipe for delicious coleslaw:

Bag of coleslaw mix
3/4 cup of light mayonnaise
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp white vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
1 granny smith apple, chopped into small pieces
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/3 cup craisins
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground pepper
1/8 tsp celery salt
Pinch of cayenne

Mix together mayonnaise, olive oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, celery salt, and cayenne until well mixed
Incorporate mayonnaise mixture with the coleslaw mix, apple, onion and craisins in a large mixing bowl
Cover and refrigerate overnight (This can be served right away but is better if refrigerated overnight.)
Enjoy!

Pair this with Baked Beans and BBQ Chicken or Ham Steak for a quick and easy dinner!

Strawberry and Cream Crepes

2011-02-19T06:21:00.000-08:00

Here is a delicious recipe that works great for breakfast or dessert.

Crepes

2 eggs
2/3 cup milk
1 tbsp butter, melted
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tbsp white sugar
1/4 tsp salt

Filling

1 cup of chopped strawberries
1 tsp of granulated sugar
4 oz cream cheese
1 tbsp powdered sugar

For the filling mix the cream cheese and powdered sugar
Cut the strawberries into small pieces and shake with sugar or pulse them in a food processor with a tsp of sugar
Mix the cream cheese and strawberries together and set aside (the mixture should be thick and creamy)
For the crepes, mix all ingredients until it is well mixed, the mixture will be thin (The ingredients are best mixed in a blender)
In a heated / lightly oiled frying pan, cook the crepes one by one
Pour about a 1/4 cup of the crepe mixture into the pan and swirl around until the mixture is a thin round circle. If there are holes in the crepe, fill them with a little batter
Cook about a minute or so and then check it to see if can be flipped. The edges should be starting to pull away from the pan. Because the mixture is so thin, they cook very quickly.
The second side should only take about 30 seconds
Once the crepe is done set aside and start another one
Fill each crepe with a few tbsps of the strawberry/cream cheese mixture and fold each side over to make it look like a roll
Serve with the seam down and ENJOY!

Cabbage Rolls

2011-01-22T16:08:00.000-08:00

Here is a meal that I have loved since I was a child:

Medium head of cabbage
1 ½ cups chopped onion
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cans Italian stewed tomatoes
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 ½ tsp salt
1 cup cooked rice (for a low-carb meal you can add shredded zucchini to the meat instead of rice)
¼ cup ketchup
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
¼ tsp pepper
1 lb ground beef
½ cup V8 juice

1. Cook cabbage in boiling water for 10 minutes or until outer leaves are tender. Rinse in cold water and remove eight large outer leaves

2. In saucepan, sauté 1 cup of onions in olive oil until translucent

3. Add tomatoes, garlic, brown sugar and ½ tsp salt. Simmer for 15 minutes.

4. In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine rice, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, pepper and remaining onion and salt. Add beef and mix well. Create 8 balls of the meat mixture and roll in the cabbage leaves.

5. Line rolls in pan and top with tomato mixture

6. Cook over medium-low heat for 1 hour, checking frequently to make sure there is enough liquid in the pan. Add V8 juice if needed. Reduce heat to low and cook 20 minutes or until rolls are heated through and meat is no longer pink

Low-Carb Tacos

2011-01-10T19:42:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for a way to cut calories and carbs? When making tacos, skip the tortillas and substitute them with large lettuce leafs, like romaine.

My taco meat recipe:

1 lb ground turkey
1/4 cup - chopped onion
Can of chopped chilies
1/2 cup of refried beans
2 tbsp taco seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste

Brown meat and then add onion and chilies
Cook until onions are translucent
Add taco seasoning and salt and pepper and incorporate well into the meat mixture
Add refried beans and cook mixture until beans are heated throughout
Serve in lettuce leafs and enjoy!

Crustless Ham & Cheese Quiche

2011-01-09T12:43:00.000-08:00

Since the holidays are over and it seems that we have packed on a couple of pounds due to all those celebrations full of amazing food, I am going to focus on healthy, low-carb meals to share with you.

Here is my Crustless Ham & Cheese Quiche recipe. I like to make a crustless quiche because the crust adds on fat, calories, and carb, delicious as it is.

Recipe for 4:

4 egg whites
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 cup chopped ham
1 cup chopped broccoli
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 - 16 oz pkg of cottage cheese
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
1 cup crumbled feta (if you do not like feta you can use cheddar or another cheese of your choice)

Beat eggs with salt, pepper, and garlic powder until eggs are fluffy
Mix in cottage cheese, ham, broccoli, onion, cheddar, and feta
Add mixture to a greased 9 inch pie dish
Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hr or until eggs are fully cooked
Remove from oven and cool 5-10 minutes
Cut and serve
Enjoy!

Amaretto Bread Pudding

2011-01-02T07:53:00.000-08:00

One night we had a dinner party but forgot dessert so we took what we could find and made this amazing dessert.

1 loaf of cinnamon raisin bread, ends removed
2 tbsp of butter, melted
4 egg whites
1 whole egg
2 cups of skim milk
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp amaretto
1/4 cup amaretto

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Line bread on a baking sheet and bake for 5-10 mins on each side until lightly toasted
Beat eggs with skim milk, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and 1 tbsp of amaretto
After bread is done, break up into small chunks and put in a 8 in greased baking dish
Reduce oven to 350 degrees
Drizzle bread chunks with butter and a 1/4 cup amaretto and mix until well coated
Pour the egg/milk mixture over the bread, making sure each piece of bread is soaked
Let sit 5 minutes and then bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes
Serve topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped topping
Enjoy!

Nacho Stuffed Shells

2011-01-01T09:34:00.000-08:00

32-36 Jumbo shells
3/4 lb ground beef
Pkg of taco seasoning
1 cup water
16 oz can of refried beans
2 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 cup salsa
8 oz can of tomato sauce
2 oz sliced black olives
1/2 cup sliced green onion

Prepare shells according to package directions
Saute beef until browned and drain grease
Add seasoning to water and simmer with beef - 5 minutes or until thick
Add to beef mixture, beans, 1/2 cup of cheese, tomato sauce, and a 1/4 cup of salsa
Cook until heated throughout
Spread a 1/2 cup of salsa in a 9 x 13 pan
Fill each shell with the beef mixture and line them up in the 9 x 13 pan
Cover with the remaining 2 cups of cheese
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes or until cheese is bubbly
Enjoy!

Appetizers for New Years

2010-12-28T07:57:00.000-08:00

For New Years, why not party with a bunch of appetizers. Here are some of my favorite appetizer recipes:

Fiesta Spinach Dip:

1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
1 pkg fiesta ranch-style dip mix
1 - 13 oz can of artichoke hearts
1 - 10 oz pkg of chopped spinach, thawed
1 - 8 oz can of water chestnuts

Mix together mayonnaise, sour cream, and fiesta ranch mix and set aside
Drain the artichoke hearts and chop finely
Drain and rinse the water chestnuts, chop finely and add into a large mixing bowl with the artichoke hearts
Drain well the spinach and mix with the artichoke hearts
Mix the mayonnaise/sour cream mixture with the water chestnuts, artichoke hearts, and spinach
Serve with your choice of bread, crackers or chips
ENJOY!

Orange-Glazed Smokies:

1 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp flour
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tbsp mustard
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 pkg of little smokies

In a sauce pan, combine sugar, flour, orange juice, mustard, and vinegar and cook until thickened
Add smokies and heat until fully heated
Serve with toothpicks and enjoy!

Bean Dip

1 cup refried beans
1 cup spicy hummus
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tsp hot sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp taco seasoning
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Heat beans until soft, then mix in hummus, sour cream, hot sauce, salt, pepper, and taco seasoning and mix until combined
Top with chopped cilantro
Serve with chips and enjoy!

Happy New Year Everyone!

BBQ Chicken Stuffed Potatoes

2010-12-18T08:39:00.000-08:00

These potatoes are overstuffed with BBQ chicken and cheese!

Yield: 4 stuffed potato halves

2 large baking potatoes
1 tsp olive oil
2 chicken breasts
BBQ sauce
1/4 cup salsa con queso
Salt and pepper
2 tbsp sour cream
1 tbsp butter
Shredded cheddar cheese
Sour cream and chives to top

Preheat oven at 350 degrees
Clean potatoes and pierce several times
Cover the skin with olive oil and bake for 1 hour in the oven
Remove potatoes from the oven and make sure they are soft all the way through (they may need a little more time in the oven)
After potatoes are cooked, shredded chicken and cook in a frying pan with a little chicken broth or water, salt and pepper.
When chicken is cooked, mix in BBQ sauce and cook another minute or so
Cut potatoes in 1/2 lengthwise and scoop potato into a bowl
Mix butter, sour cream, salsa con queso, and salt and pepper with the potato
Combine chicken and potato and spoon into the potato skins
Top with a generous amount of shredded cheese and bake for 20 minutes
Top with sour cream and chives and enjoy!

Dreamsicle Pudding

2010-12-18T08:36:00.000-08:00

Here is a recipe that is absolutely amazing. It tastes just like a dreamsicle popsicle. Take this recipe to a potluck for an instant hit but make sure to bring copies of the recipe. Every time I take this anywhere, I am bombarded with requests for the recipe. It is delicious and easy to make.

3 oz box of cooked vanilla pudding (do NOT buy the instant pudding, it does not work)
3 oz box orange jello
3 oz box of cooked tapioca pudding (do NOT buy the instant pudding, it does not work)
11 oz can of mandarin oranges
12 oz cool whip
1 cup orange juice
2 cups milk

Cook together in a sauce pan on medium heat the orange juice, milk, orange jello mix, and both pudding mixes
Cook until the mixture is thick
Pour into a mixing bowl and refrigerate at least 1 1/2 hours
Mix in cool whip and mandarin oranges and ENJOY!

Tip: I like to make cooked mixture the night before and then mix in the oranges and cool whip before taking to a party or serving at home

Triple Chocolate Peppermint Brownies

2010-12-13T19:12:00.000-08:00

These brownies are amazing and festive for the holidays! I took a basic homemade brownie recipe and added a twist of dark chocolate, white chocolate, and candy canes. You can make this recipe without the candy canes for a Triple Chocolate treat! These were a huge hit at my office for a birthday celebration. Take them to a Holiday party, they will be a big hit!

1 cup butter, melted
2 1/2 cups white sugar
1 tbsp vanilla
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
2 candy canes, crushed into small pieces

Preheat the oven at 350 degrees
Mix butter, sugar, and vanilla until well blended
Add eggs and mix well
Mix together flour, cocoa powder and salt and then mix with the butter/sugar mixture
Fold in chocolate chips and candy canes pieces
Bake in a greased 9x13 pan for 40 minutes
Let cool on a wire rack
Serve and enjoy!

Candy Bark

2010-12-12T08:05:00.000-08:00

One of my holiday favorites is Peppermint Bark. Candy bark is easy and fun to make and you can make your own flavor varieties.

My peppermint bark:

1 bag of milk chocolate chips
1 bag of white chocolate chips
2 candy canes, broken up into small pieces
Parchment

Melt on a double boiler the milk chocolate and pour onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
Melt the white chocolate on the double boiler and pour over the milk chocolate
Swirl the 2 chocolates together on the top layer
Sprinkle broken candy cane pieces over the chocolate
Refrigerate for 30 minutes
When chocolate is solid, break up into smaller pieces and enjoy.
This makes a great homemade present too!

Other candy bark varieties:

Chocolate and peanut butter with cookie crumbles
Dark and white chocolate peppermint
Fruit and nut - top chocolate with your favorite nuts and dried fruit
Confetti bark - top with your favorite holiday sprinkles (the kids love it!)
Smores bark - top milk chocolate with graham cracker crumbles and mini marshmallows

BBQ Chicken Stuffed Baked Potatoes

2010-12-12T07:49:00.000-08:00

These potatoes are overstuffed with BBQ chicken and cheese!

Yield: 4 stuffed potato halves

2 large baking potatoes
1 tsp olive oil
2 chicken breasts
BBQ sauce
1/4 cup salsa con queso
Salt and pepper
2 tbsp sour cream
1 tbsp butter
Shredded cheddar cheese
Sour cream and chives to top

Preheat oven at 350 degrees
Clean potatoes and pierce several times
Cover the skin with olive oil and bake for 1 hour in the oven
Remove potatoes from the oven and make sure they are soft all the way through (they may need a little more time in the oven)
After potatoes are cooked, shredded chicken and cook in a frying pan with a little chicken broth or water, salt and pepper.
When chicken is cooked, mix in BBQ sauce and cook another minute or so
Cut potatoes in 1/2 lengthwise and scoop potato into a bowl
Mix butter, sour cream, salsa con queso, and salt and pepper with the potato
Combine chicken and potato and spoon into the potato skins
Top with a generous amount of shredded cheese and bake for 20 minutes
Top with sour cream and chives and enjoy!

Homemade Spiked Hot Cocoa

2010-12-06T19:51:00.000-08:00

Here is a delicious recipe my husband came up with for a spiked hot cocoa. You can make this minus the alcohol for the kiddies!

Servings: 4

1/3 cup cocoa powder
3/4 sugar
pinch of salt
1/3 cup water
4 cups milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp cinnamon
Dash of nutmeg
1 shot of rum
1/4 cup Bailey's

Make a chocolate sauce by mixing the cocoa powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, and water and bring to a boil for a few minutes, but make sure not to burn it
Add in milk, rum, Bailey's, and vanilla and bring liquid to a hot temperature without boiling it
Serve and Enjoy!
This cocoa is delicious topped with homemade whipped cream!

Homemade Whipped Cream:

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp powdered sugar

Beat heavy whipping cream with an electric whisk until it starts to thicken
Add vanilla and powdered sugar and continuing whipping until soft peaks form

Cream of Chicken and Potato Soup

2010-12-05T08:10:00.000-08:00

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 large celery stalked, chopped
1/2 cup of carrot matchsticks
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
2 medium red potatoes chopped
3/4 cup flour
6 cups chicken broth
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 - 1/2 tsp ground pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp sage
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp marjoram
1/2 tsp ground mustard
1/4 tsp rosemary
1/2 of the meat from a 2 lb roasted chicken
2 cups milk or half and half (I used soy milk)

Melt butter in a large pot, that is large enough to make the soup in
Add onions, celery, carrots, jalapeno, and mushrooms and saute 2-3 mins
Slowly mix in flour until mixture is thick
Slowly stir in chicken broth so that the broth and flour/veggie mixture is mixed well
Add potatoes, salt, pepper, garlic powder, sage, oregano, marjoram, ground mustard, and rosemary and cook on low heat, covered for 15 - 20 minutes until potatoes are almost cooked
Add chicken meat and milk and continue to simmer for 1 hour
Serve and enjoy!

Gooey Grilled Cheese

2010-12-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't love a perfect grilled cheese sandwich? The bread is perfectly browned and the cheese inside is melted all the way through. I know that I have made grilled cheese where the bread is burned and the cheese isn't melted. Here is a way to make it amazing:

2 pieces of bread per sandwich
Butter
Cheese of your choice (I used 2 slices of cheddar per sandwich and then cut some thin slices of colby jack)

Heat a non-stick pan on medium heat that you have a lid for
Butter 1 piece of bread for each sandwich and put into pan butter side down.
Layer cheese on top of bread, cover the pan and let cook while you butter the remaining bread
Put the top layer on the bread and flip to check the bottom bread piece.
Continue to cook with the lid on so that the entire sandwich is heated and all of the cheese melts
Check every few minutes to make sure the bread doesn't burn
Enjoy!

Leftover Turkey

2010-11-29T06:31:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone. I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving, I was away visiting family so I didn't really cook but here is a great article from MSN for turkey leftovers. http://www.delish.com/entertaining-ideas/holidays/thanksgiving/leftover-turkey-recipes?click=pp

Also, for all those leftover mashed potatoes. Make potato cakes. Just add an egg and a 1/2 cup - 1 cup of flour to a 1 cups leftover mashed potatoes and fry them up on skillet like pancakes! They are delicious topped with gravy and a fried egg! ENJOY!

Cheesy Crusted Chicken

2010-11-23T19:28:00.000-08:00

Here is a really easy chicken recipe:

2 chicken breasts
1 egg
Salt
1 cup cheese crackers

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Tenderize chicken with a fork
Grind crackers in a food processor or smash in a ziplock bag until finely crushed
Sprinkle chicken on both sides with salt, dip in egg and then coat with crushed crackers
Bake in an oven safe dish for 30 - 40 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked. Turn chicken 1/2 way though the baking process.

Apple Cider Crisp

2010-11-23T05:55:00.000-08:00

Here is a simple and delicious Apple Crisp recipe.

4 apples
1/2 cup honey
1 tsp cinnamon
2/3 cup flour
2/3 cup oats
1 cup brown sugar
1 pkg of apple cider mix
1/2 cup butter, softened

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Peel and cut up apples in to small chunks
Coat apples with cinnamon and honey and set in greased 8x8 square dish
Mix flour, oats, brown sugar, and apple cider mix and mix well
Mix butter and flour/oat mixture and spread over the top of the apples
Bake for 30 minutes
Top with vanilla ice cream or whipped topping and enjoy!

Strawberry Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting

2010-11-17T07:33:00.000-08:00

Cupcakes:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 of 3.4 oz pkg of vanilla pudding
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 3/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup strawberry syrup

Preheat oven at 350 degrees
Mix flour and baking powder and set aside
Blend sugar, butter and pudding mix until well mixed and add eggs and vanilla until eggs are mixed into batter
Then slowly add flour mixture a little at a time and mix well.
Stir in milk and strawberry syrup and beat batter for about 1 minute until mixture is a light pink.
You can add a little food coloring if you would like bright pink cupcakes
Line or grease a muffin pan and fill cupcakes
Bake for 25-30 minutes until cake is done

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter melted
8 oz pkg of cream cheese
3 - 4 cups powdered sugar
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup marshmallow fluff
1/4 cup milk

Mix butter and cream cheese until smooth and then beat in marshmallow fluff
Mix in powdered sugar a little at time, tasting it so it is not too sweet
Mix in cocoa powder until it is a rich brown color
Add milk to thin the mixture out a little
Refrigerate for about 20 minutes or until ready to use and use to top cupcakes after they have cooled

Baked Beans

2010-11-16T05:56:00.000-08:00

Here is a side that I like to make with ham or kielbasa.

Can of Great Northern Beans
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup shredded cheese plus a little extra for the topping

Preheat oven at 400 degrees
Drain most of the liquid out of the beans and add to a mixing bowl.
Mash beans with potato masher until most are smashed
Add to beans olive oil and all spices and mix well
Mix in 1/2 a cup of shredded cheese
Add mixture to an oiled oven safe dish and sprinkle a little shredded cheese over the top
Bake for 20 minutes and serve

Homemade Pizza

2010-11-15T20:03:00.000-08:00

Being raised in Chicago, my husband and I love thick crusted pizza!!!

1 cup warm water
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
3 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
2 tbsp grated Parmesan
1 tbsp yeast

Put all the ingredients in bread machine in the order listed above on the dough only setting or if you do not have a bread machine, mix all ingredients together, kneading until dough is a smooth ball and let rise 1 hour in a covered bowl
After the bread machine cycle is done or the one hour rise is done spread out the dough with your hands or rolling pin to fit your pizza pan and let rise for another 20 minutes
Top with your favorite sauce and topping
Bake at 425 for 20 - 25 minutes until dough is browned and cheese is bubbly!

Our pizza sauce:

12 oz can of tomato paste
7 oz can of chopped chilies
Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper
1 tsp sugar
Garlic powder
Cayenne

Mix them all together and spread on the dough and top with your favorite meats, veggies, and cheese!

Stuffed Shells

2010-11-12T18:43:00.000-08:00

12 oz box of large shells
28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
7 oz can of green chilis
2.25 oz can of black olives
1/4 cup chopped yellow onion
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms, chopped
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
dash of cayenne pepper
1 tsp sugar
1/2 pkg of frozen chopped spinach (defrosted)
15 oz ricotta cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 cups shredded Mozzarella

Boil a large pot of water and boil shells until soft (about 15 mins)
Preheat oven at 350 degrees
Combine crushed tomatoes, green chilis, black olives, yellow onion, mushrooms, Italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, garlic powder, sugar, and cayenne pepper in sauce pan and cook until bubbly. Then let sit covered while shells are cooking
Combine ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, chopped spinach, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp pepper and set aside.
After shells are cooked and cooled enough to be handled, fill them with about a tablespoon of the ricotta and spinach mixture and line up in 9x13 baking pan
Top all shells with the tomato sauce and sprinkle the mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup of Parmesan on top and bake for 30 minutes
Serve and Enjoy!!!

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