Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with a mixture of sweet Italian sausage and provolone cheese, then smothered in spaghetti sauce that includes her signature blend of spices, Carol’s “shells” are kind of a big deal.
Everyone has a favorite meal that reminds them of home. It’s a dish that no one can make as good as your mom or dad, something that you look forward to when you go back home or one you request whenever you get the chance.
As my own kids get closer to flying the coop, I think about this a lot. What meals do I make that they will remember and miss the most? What is the one comfort food or favorite treat they will ask for when they come home? For me, that special meal will forever be my mom’s Italian Shells. Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with a mixture of sweet Italian sausage and provolone cheese, then smothered in spaghetti sauce that includes her signature blend of spices, Carol’s “shells” are kind of a big deal.
This is the dish that our family asks my mom to make whenever the occasion calls for a people-pleasing dish that everyone is sure to love. They make regular appearances at family birthdays, potlucks and celebrations of every sort.
And when she isn’t making shells for our family, my mom is sharing them with others. From neighbors celebrating a new baby, to friends who just lost a loved one or others who may not be up to cooking, so many people have enjoyed Carol’s shells throughout the years.
Where does the recipe come from?
There may be several variations of Italian Stuffed Shells today, but my mom was first introduced to this version at a friend’s house in the early 70’s in Cloquet, Minn. There was a group of teacher friends who’d get together regularly for dinner, drinks and cards and the Italian shells were served by the hostess who had roots in the Iron Range—an area in Northeastern Minnesota known for its diverse population of European immigrants, including many from Italy who brought with them new flavors and dishes.
Let’s just say this saucy little number left quite an impression that night in Cloquet, and my mom was quick to get the recipe. She has modified it only slightly over the years with her preferred brands of ingredients.
Cooking with Mom
Last spring, I visited my parents in my childhood home to make my mom’s Italian Stuffed Shells with her.
Making my mom’s recipe alongside her is one of the things that inspired me to embark on this blog. I learned that a written recipe doesn’t capture the special touch, extra ingredients, techniques and the amount of love that goes into a favorite family dish.
I hope that others who have a favorite family recipe will make it together with their loved ones, to learn it step-by-step and also create ever-lasting memories.
Things I learned cooking with my mom:
- Ingredients matter: I had made these shells several times but they never turned out as good as my mom’s. Well, now I know why. She has several preferred brands of ingredients that I can attest make all the difference in how this dish turns out. These include:
- Ragu Chunky Sauteed Onion & Garlic Spaghetti Sauce: She doctors this up with some additional garlic and spices (indicated in the recipe below), but this is her go-to base for this recipe.
- Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausage Links: Carol uses the links, removing the casings, because the meat has a more tender consistency than the bulk version.
- BelGioioso Freshly Shredded Four Cheeses (Asiago, Fontina, Parmesan and Provolone): She uses this flavorful cheese (instead of plain parmesan) to sprinkle over the shells before baking.
- Spice action: Not only does my mom add additional garlic and spices to her spaghetti sauce, she rubs the ground spices in the palms of her hands before she adds them to the sauce and then runs it all through the blender to enhance the flavor.
- Why not get comfortable?! The process of stuffing the shells can be tedious, particularly if you are making a double batch. My mom sets up a card table in the living room so she can sit while she works, watch TV and take her time.
It’s still too early to tell what my contributions to my kids’ food memories or favorite dish from home will be, but all indications are showing it just may be the very dish that I have loved for so long—my mom’s Italian Shells. And, I am totally OK with that!
