Shelly's Recipe

BAKED SHELLS WITH PESTO, MOZZARELLA, AND MEAT SAUCE

Category: Pasta - Baked

1 tbsp cooking oil
1 onion, chopped
1 lb ground beef
2 cups canned chopped tomatoes, drained (from one 28 oz can)
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup pesto
¾ lb medium pasta shells
1 1/2 cups Mozzarella, Fontina, Gouda or Havarti, grated
1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Heat the oven to 400. Grease a 13x9 inch baking. In a large stainless-steel frying pan, heat the oil over moderately low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in the ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until the meat is no longer pink, about 2 minutes. Drain off any excess fat. Add the tomatoes and salt to the pan and bring to a simmer. Cook until most of the liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the pesto.

Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the shells until just done, about 10 minutes. Drain and toss with the sauce. Put half of the pasta into the prepared baking dish and top with half the mozzarella and 2 tbsp of the Parmesan. Repeat with the remaining pasta, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Bake until bubbling, about 15 minutes. Serves 4