{Recipe} ~ Lemon-Basil Ricotta Stuffed Shells

I promised you the recipe from our Valentine's dinner and I am here to deliver.

I wanted a meal that was simple enough but something that still sounded and tasted fancy.

Enter a delicious pasta concoction with champagne cream sauce.

Oh yeah.

Lemon-Basil Ricotta Stuffed Shells with Champagne Cream Sauce
adapted from Simply Scratch

Ingredients:

1 box Jumbo Shells, you won't use them all but some may break in the cooking process
8 oz. Part-skim Ricotta Cheese
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
Juice of 2 lemons
Zest of one lemon
1 cup Pecorino Romano, grated on the largest holes of a box grater
3 tablespoons of Butter
3 tablespoons All Purpose Flour
1 clove of Garlic
3/4 cup Champagne
1/2 cup Heavy Cream
Kosher Salt and Black Pepper to taste

Directions:

Butter a large {or two small} baking dish and bring a large pot of water to boil and season generously with kosher salt. Cook the jumbo shell pasta two to three minutes shy of al dente {or shy of the box directions}.

Mean while, season the ricotta with salt and black pepper. Mix in the lemon juice, zest, fresh basil, and half of the grated pecorino and set aside.

Once the pasta is partially cooked, drain well and spread out onto a rimmed baking sheet or some parchment paper. With a spoon stuff enough shells until the ricotta is gone and place the stuffed shells into the prepared dishes.

In a small sauce pan melt three tablespoons of butter; once melted, add in one clove of garlic. Cook until fragrant and soft, but not browned. Whisk in the three tablespoons of flour and cook, while whisking, for a minute. Pour in champagne, still whisk while you pour in the heavy cream. Let bubble {still whisking} until slightly thick 1-2 minutes. Add some fresh ground black pepper, then remove and pour evenly over the stuffed shells.

Place in a preheated 350 degree oven and bake until the cheese has melted and the sauce is bubbly. About 20-25 minutes.