AuthorcookingwithtoddlersIngredients
General Directions:
- In a large pot, boil salted water and add jumbo pasta shells. Cook for 8-10 minutes (a little more firm than al dente). Set out to cool.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In large mixing bowl, add ricotta cheese, 2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and egg. Stir to combine.
- Optional: add any precooked vegetables or meat and combine.
- In a 9×13 inch baking pan, evenly spread 1 ½ cups marinara sauce across the bottom.
- Fill each cooled shell with cheese mixture and place filled shells into baking pan.
- Spoon the rest of the marinara sauce over the shells.
- Sprinkle remaining 1 cup mozzarella and ½ cup Parmesan cheeses over the top of the shells.
- Cover the pan with tin foil. Bake for 20 minutes.
- Uncover the pan, then bake for an additional 15 minutes. Cheese should be melted and starting to brown.
- Garnish with fresh basil.
Toddler Instructions: Click on the skill level below for detailed instructions. (#s relate to General Directions)
Beginner:
3. Pour premeasured ingredients into mixing bowl. You can help with hand over hand assist to ensure it all gets into the bowl.
4. Optional: pour any precooked vegetables or meat into mixing bowl
5. Pour or spoon sauce (start with 1 cup if using premeasured cups) into baking pan.
7. Help spoon or pour sauce over shells
8. Help sprinkle cheeses over shells
Experienced:
3. Pour premeasured ingredients into mixing bowl. With a large mixing spoon, spatula, or hands, help to combine all of the ingredients together.
4. Optional: Pour any precooked vegetables or meat into mixing bowl. Help stir to combine.
5. Pour or spoon sauce into baking dish and help to evenly spread sauce along the bottom of pan.
7. Help spoon or pour sauce over shells.
8. Help sprinkle cheeses over shells
Pro:
1. Pour pasta shells into boiling water (be careful of any possible splashing of boiling water)
3. Help to measure Italian seasoning and garlic powder and add to mixing bowl. Stir to combine (help stirring as needed). Crack eggs into a separate bowl to ensure no shells end up in the mixing bowl. Using a whisk, mix eggs to fully combine egg whites and yolks. Pour eggs into mixing bowl. Stir to combine (help stirring as needed).
4. Optional : Pour any precooked vegetables or meat into mixing bowl. Stir to combine (help stirring as needed).
5. Pour or spoon sauce into baking dish and help to evenly spread sauce along the bottom of pan
6. Help to fill pasta shells with cheese mixture. Place filled shells into pan.
7. Help spoon or pour sauce over shells.
8. Help sprinkle cheeses over shells.
Notes:
- I tend to double this recipe and freeze a batch of filled shells for another day. To freeze extra filled shells, place on a cookie sheet and put in freezer for 1-2 hours. Then transfer to a freezer safe storage such as freezer Ziploc bag. When cooking from frozen, add an extra 30 minutes of covered bake time.
- This recipe is with just cheese, but you can add any precooked meat or vegetables to the mixture. Adding meat or vegetables will also increase the overall amount of mixture you have for filling.
- Our family prefers to freshly grate/shred our cheese vs using store bought grated/shredded cheese as these tend to be coated in additional ingredients. I have our older toddler help with cheese grating as another activity.
Suggested Fine Motor Activities:
- Ooblek
- Pouring and Mixing
Recommended Supplies: Amazon affiliate links:
- Anchor baking dish set: https://amzn.to/44l72qq
- Cheese grater: https://amzn.to/3HPx3W7
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