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Monday, January 9, 2023

Molasses Cookies and Stuffed Jumbo Shells



If you like gingerbread cookies, have I got a recipe for you!

I just can't get enough of wintry flavors and my friend Janne gave me her beloved Mom's Molasses Cookie recipe and I was anxious to try it.  I'm having the cookies with Twinings Gingerbread Joy tea.

 

My Goebel sledding kids that my Dad gave me oh so long ago,  are making their appearance, along with my pine cones that I've collected for years.  Always on vacations, if there were pine cones around, I brought some back, as souvenirs.  

 

My beautiful teacup from my friend, Michele, along with the matching plate, always comes out in the wintertime.


 
Yield: 6 dozen unless you make them bigger like I do
Author: Kitty, but recipe was given to by my friend Janne from her Mom's collection
Molasses Cookies

Molasses Cookies

I made half of this recipe and made my cookies like big walnut size and did have to bake them a little longer. If you like chewy cookies, you will love these!

Ingredients

  • 1 and 1/2 cups shortening
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup dark molasses
  • 4 cups sifted flour
  • 4 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons cloves
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ginger

Instructions

  1. Cream the shortening and sugar together until well mixed. Add the eggs and molasses and mix well.
  2. Add the flour, baking soda, salt, and the spices and mix again.
  3. Form into balls the size of walnuts (I did mine much larger). Space 2" apart on greased or parchment lined cookie sheets.
  4. Bake 8-10 minutes in a 375 degree oven for the walnut size, or 12-13 minutes for larger size.
  5. Sprinkle with sugar when they come out of the oven.
  6. Cool before removing them from the sheet.
 
 
 

 

Grandson Riley left for his final time at his fort that he's stationed at before heading to South Korea in February to work in an Army hospital.  My daughter had a wonderful brunch for him before he left.  Isn't the message on the TV at the time, a perfect one??



These stuffed shells are stuffed before they are cooked.  I've become a cook that seems to like easy these days. 



Yield: 6 serving
Author: Kitty, but adapted from 12 Tomatoes
No Boil Cheese Stuffed Shells

No Boil Cheese Stuffed Shells

These no-boil versions of pasta dishes really appeal to me. This was so easy, tasty and the jumbo shells were perfectly cooked.

Ingredients

  • 1-24 ounce jar marinara sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 egg
  • 16 ounce (mine was 15 ounce) ricotta
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan, freshly grated, but I used the Parm in the green can
  • 2 cups mozzarella, grated, divided
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1-12 ounce box jumbo shells (I had some left over, but used 29 shells)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • parsley to sprinkle on top, optional

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Spread 1/2 cup marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9 x 13" baking dish.
  3. In a medium bowl, add garlic, egg, ricotta, Parmesan, 1/2 cup mozzarella, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
  4. Transfer mixture to a ziptop bag and cut off one corner, or use a pastry bag. Pipe mixture into the shells and arrange on top of marinara sauce in the baking dish.
  5. Cover the shells with the remaining sauce and 1 and 1/2 cups of water.
  6. Cover dish tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour. Uncover and top with the remaining 1 and 1/2 cup of mozzarella and return to oven for about 10 minutes until the liquid has evaporated and the cheese is golden brown.
  7. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with parsley, if desired.
Thank you for your visit!  xo




24 comments:

  1. Beautiful grandchildren...I'll be praying for your Riley...
    hughugs
    Donna

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  2. Good Morning Kitty, Your molasses cookies and jumbo shells both appeal to me! I love your pretty pine cone tea cup and sweet Goebel sledding pair. What a great photo of you and Molly with Riley...love the message on the TV behind the three of you! Wishing Riley safe travels as heads to Korea. I know you and Molly are both so proud of him and Connor. Happy Monday ♥

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  3. I will try both of these recipes. We have a small Italian gourmet grocery store close by, and we often purchase the stuffed shells. I like that you don't have to cook the shells before baking. I'm definitely trying this recipe soon! Thanks for posting, Kitty. I also love your cup and saucer; it's perfect for winter!

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  4. Ooh, those stuffed shells are everything! Riley looks so good. Praying his station in So Korea is safe and productive. (Oh, and the cookies look good too! Mr P would like those!).

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  5. Your recipes look great! Love the beautiful figurines and the gorgeous teacup. Wonderful photo of Riley, you daughter and you. Best wishes.

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  6. Thank you so much for sharing my mothers recipe. It brings back such fabulous memories

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  7. Those stuffed shells look amazing! I tend to make my lasagnas all this way too; I hardly ever bother to pre-boil anything.

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  8. Love both recipes! Wild about gingerbread cookies...and the shell recipe is so easy and inviting. Love the photos too...thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful week ahead. XO

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  9. The cookies and the stuffed shells look so good. Thanks for the recipes and I hope you have a nice week Kitty.

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  10. Good morning, Kitty. Molasses cookies are a favourite here, too, so delicious with a cup of tea on a cold day. The shells look great, and not having to boil them ahead of time would make it much easier. Thanks for the recipes. Have a good week!

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  11. Oh yes, that message on the TV is perfect. I know you are so proud of your Riley. Those cookies look so dang good Kitty! Wonderful picture of you all too. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  12. Your molasses cookies and cheese shells are right up my alley!

    If I recall correctly, Riley is training to be a paramedic in the military?

    I enjoyed the Gingerbread Joy, Ginger Snappish, and Eggnoggin' tea last week. Thank you for sharing!

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  13. P.S. Forgot to share my acorn story. Three decades (!) ago, I made a Christmas wreath with acorns. This year, I hung it outside by my front door. When I was putting it away last weekend, I accidentally dropped it on the ground and half the acorns fell off! So it's time to let it go. LOL

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  14. Wow Kitty, I’ve never seen a stuffed shells recipe that didn’t require pre-cooking the shells, this is awesome! What a great shortcut! I’m all about easy these days, I can’t wait to try this! I know you’re very proud of your grandson, but I’m sure it’s terribly hard when he is stationed so far away… Your winter decor is adorable!
    Jenna

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  15. That cookie recipe looks delicious. I could really enjoy one this afternoon with a cup of tea! And the shells look yummy....might need to try those, too! Thanks for sharing!

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  16. Oh, my! Both the cookies and the shells look amazing! I am sure you will miss your dear grandson. I trust the Lord will bless and keep him and bring him home safe to all of you, in Jesus' name. God bless you, dear friend.

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  17. OOOhh two favorites - loved stuffed shells and love molasses cookies. And it was so very nice to see your winter teacup being featured. ♥ Biggest hugs.

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  18. I love jumbo shells!! I love the lasagna no bake version. Definitely have to try these next!

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  19. Thank you for sharing your recipe.

    I do like your sledding kids and the tea-cup and matching plate look very nice.
    I wish Riley safe travels when he goes to Korea.

    All the best Jan

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  20. I am all about easy too, these days Kitty! And what a precious picture of you with your grandson and daughter, prayers for him on his adventures overseas! Molasses cookies are a favorite in our family, this looks like a wonderful recipe! And the filled shells really sounds yummy, and quite easy, filling them before cooking. Your pinecone teacup is adorable, and I could give you thousands of pine cones! HA! I have to rake them up spring and fall, its quite a job. You made them look so pretty in the vase with the candle! Blessings and Happy New Year to you!

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  21. Wishing your handsome grandson the best! Cookies look delish (dark molasses reminds me of my dear grandpa who loved it drizzled on warm bread as a morning snack! Not for me, but he loved it!) Happy New year!

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  22. Oh a few of those cookies with a hot cuppa would hit the spot right now. I've saved your recipe ... it looks delicious, Kitty!

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  23. After a while without seeing the list of blogs, I started now and believe me I came right away to see what Kitty has been posting. I greatly appreciate her tables, china and recipes.
    The autumnal decoration of this table is very beautiful. And as soon as I have time I'm going to try making these cookies. Thanks

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  24. I do love a good gingerbread cookie and these look terrific! So perfect with all your pinecone accessories. And an easy jumbo shell recipe sounds great to me too! What a wonderful photo of you with your daughter and Riley. He has gotten so tall! Many blessings to him in his new adventure.

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