Taco's in Pasta Shells.

This is probably one of my new favorite recipes. My mom has been making stuffed shells for ever. And I love love love them. They're cheesy death.

So when I saw this recipe, I knew I had to try it.

Ingredients
12 ounces dried jumbo shell pasta
2 16 ounce jars salsa
2.5 lbs ground beef
6 ounces cream cheese, cute up
2 teaspoons chili powder
1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
chopped tomato (optional)

okay 2 things: 1) of course we used turkey instead 2) do NOT use 2.5 lbs of ground meat unless you're serving 15 people. we had WAY to much left over meat mixture. 1-1.5 lbs is def. enough.
trust me on this.

STEP 1)
Preheat oven to 350
Cook pasta according to package directions
Drain
Rinse with Cold water

(make sure they're cool enough to pick up and handle)

Step 2)

(This is what the recipe says)
Divide about 1 cup of the salsa between 2 un-greased 2 quart rectangular baking dishes. spreading evenly.
set aside

(This is what i did)
Pour some of the salsa in the bottom of my 9x13 glass baking dish. I don't like to measure.
I just made sure that the bottom was covered so the pasta wouldn't stick)

(This is what the recipe says)
In an extra large skilled, gook ground meat over medium heat until brown.
drain off fat
stir in cream cheese and chili powder
cool slightly.

(This is what I did)
Cook brown meat on high
Season with typical seasonings
Cook until done
Drain off fat
Stir in cream cheese
add Chili powder
Taste test.... does my mouth tingle? yes? stop seasoning... no? add more chili powder
Let cool.

This is what mine looked like when I was done seasoning. And again, I used ground turkey, so if you're using ground beef the colors will be different.

That's a lot of meat folks

Step 3)
Spoon meet mixture into pasta shells
Arrange filled shells on top of the salsa in the baking dish.

Once the dish is filled
Top with the remaining salsa

Step 4)
Bake uncovered for 15 minutes

Take dish out of oven
Sprinkle with cheese and tomato if desired

Return to oven for another 15 minutes.

If you like taco's... you'll love this dish
If you like pasta... you'll love this dish

Its really adaptable to what every you wish.

You could do ground beef
You could do shredded chicken
You can make it more spicy (by choosing a hotter version of salsa and adding more chili powder)
You can make it less spicy

There are so many different ways to do this one.
Have fun with it.