A Classic Italian Meal for Wealth and Love | Meal Prep, Vegetarian Stuffed Shells | Sara's Kitchen Witchcraft

Now who doesn't love a pan of gooey, cheesy stuffed shells?

Jump to Recipe | Jump to Witchcraft

I'll be so honest with you: classic Italian (American) fare really isn't my shtick, y'know? When I was growing up, there was something about tomato and ricotta together that had a mouth feel that little kid Sara just... did not like. However, my boyfriend swears by stuffed shells because his aunt apparently used to make some really good ones. Given they're technically vegetarian, these ended up being my final Lenten meal for Good Friday, too, so if you're able to eat cheese and want to skip meat for whatever reason, these are great!

And after actually making them myself... yeah. I can say these are pretty good. I don't know if I'll ever be, say, a lasagna or baked ziti fan, but stuffed shells? I can rock with those. And they're so easy to freeze and save for a day you don't want to cook, too! Freeze the cheese-stuffed shells on a baking tray, then peel them off the next day and toss them in a tub so you can make them again with whatever sauce you want. Easy meal prep for those busy days!

Of course, when we're looking at magic in this meal, there are a lot of places to go, too. Namely, we'll be checking out the tomato, nutmeg, oregano, parsley, wheat, and cheese for our magical combo, so let's talk about it!

Magic in Stuffed Shells

If there's anything worth loving about stuffed shells (besides how easy they are to make), it's the fact that they are prime comfort food. You know that you'll be feeling cozy with something so warm, so rich, and so full of delicious cheesy flavor.

But as always, when we grab our Italian seasoning mix, you know there's a ton of stuff hiding in there: rosemary, oregano, basil, marjoram, thyme, sage, savory, all that kind of stuff. You can use any and all of them for your magic and get all kinds of different combinations: oregano and thyme for love, basil and rosemary for protection and luck, sage and savory for purification and strength. Given you're usually throwing in some noodles, which are all wheat and egg, too, signs of fertility and wealth, and since you're generally cooking them in a tomato (AKA love) based sauce with some kind of cheese (like parmesan, another great indicator of wealth), yeah. Even a simple plate of spaghetti is going to go a long way magically.

In here, though, we're looking at a well rounded blend of elemental energy, with water, earth, fire, and air all represented in our major players. Combine that with the planetary powers of Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury, and you've got the makings for three very important things in your domestic and love life: a sweet romance, plenty of wealth, luck, and grace, and strong, healthy communication. This isn't just the meal you woo a romantic partner with: it's the meal you invite them to in order to build a real home with them, all secure and stable and full of joy and partnership.

And that's what good kitchen witchin' is all about.

Stuffed Shells

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 25 minutes

Makes 4-6 servings

Ingredients:

For the sauce:

• 28oz crushed tomatoes

• 1 large onion, diced

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 3 bay leaves

• 2 Tbsp Italian seasoning

• 1/2 tsp nutmeg

• 1 Tbsp vegeta or Mrs. Dash

• (Optional) a piece the rind of a parmesan block

• 1/2 Tbsp sugar

• Salt and pepper to taste

For the shells:

• 8oz jumbo shells

• 1 egg

• 1lb ricotta cheese

• 2 cups (8oz) Italian blend cheese

• 2 cups (8oz) mozzarella cheese

• 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley

• 1/2 Tbsp garlic powder

• 1/2 Tbsp onion powder

• 1 tsp dried basil

• 1 tsp paprika

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Dice and fry your onions until translucent, then add garlic and fry until fragrant.

2. Bring a pot of water to a boil and salt generously.

3. Add tomatoes, seasonings, and parmesan rind, then let simmer on low while you prepare the rest.

4. Boil shells until halfway cooked (around 8-10min).

5. Preheat oven to 375.

6. Mix together cheeses, egg, and seasonings into a paste. If too thick, add a little milk to make easier to work with.

7. Drain and cool your pasta, then get a 9x16 baking dish.

8. Put half the sauce down on the bottom, then fill each shell and lay them cheese-side down in the sauce.

9. Cover the shells with the rest of the sauce and 2 cups of mozzarella cheese.

10. Cover with foil and bake for 20min, then remove the foil and broil for another 5min, or until cheese is brown and bubbly.

11. Let cool for 10min, then serve.

I gotta say, these are, in fact, the best stuffed shells I've ever had. Cheesy, rich, comforting, and with a delicious sauce to go with them? What's not to love? And when you freeze them on a baking sheet and put them in a bucket, you can make them with any other kind of sauce you want later, like a bechamel or alfredo sauce, if you aren't feeling the tomato base again. It's easy, it's quick, it's good for nights you know you won't have the time to do the whole thing up, and it's so very magical, to boot. Enjoy! ♥

---

Other Recipes You May Like:

---

Sara Raztresen is a Slovene-American writer, screenwriter, and Christian witch. Her fantasy works draw heavily on the wisdom she gathers from her own personal and spiritual experience, and her spiritual practice borrows much of the whimsy and wonder that modern society has relegated to fairy-and-folktale. Her goal is to help people regain their spiritual footing and discover God through a new (yet old) lens of mysticism.

Follow Sara on Tiktok, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube, and explore her fiction writing here.