Easy Stuffed Shells

This recipe comes from Barb Overlie, of Lake Crystal, Minnesota. Barb is a VSP or volunteer soy promoter, and has been doing cooking demonstrations with soy since 1982. She finds that Midwesterners are most receptive to soy when it’s combined with familiar foods. Here, tofu replaces ricotta cheese for the filling in the shells.

18 large pasta shells

1 26-ounce jar of your favorite pasta sauce

1 egg

1 (12.3-ounce) package silken soft tofu (mashed)

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

¾ cups grated Parmesan cheese, divided

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1. Cook pasta shells according to package directions; drain. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom of 13 X 9 X 2 inch glass baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. In large bowl, beat egg. Stir in tofu, 1 3/4 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese and the parsley.

2. To assemble, spread 1 cup of the sauce in baking dish. Fill cooked shells with tofu/cheese mixture. Arrange filled shells in the baking dish. Pour remaining sauce over shells. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.

3. Bake, covered with foil, until bubbly, about 45 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Yield: 6 servings.

CALORIES 26 (7% from fat); FAT 1g (sat fat 0.1g, mono fat 0.1g, poly fat 0.2g); PROTEIN 3.9g; CARBOHYDRATE 24.7g; CHOLESTEROL 4mg; IRON 1.4mg; SODIUM 227mg; CALCIUM 20mg;