Ay Chihuahua...it's Taco Stuffed Shells!

Most kids at some point love to make and eat tacos. Making them for a crowd or having a taco bar where everyone can make their own can be messy or space prohibitive. When our daughter had her second baby two years ago, one of her friends sent this over for dinner and we have been making it ever since. It is easy and tasty and is something you can make ahead and pop in the freezer for a future date. They are kid friendly and you can add your own degree of spiciness. We'll be having these at the Cowboy Party I mentioned. I also said that we were having chili and cornbread casserole and these are posted these in my blog late in December and early January. I hope to get a few photos to add in here next week, of all of us in our "gear"! I love, love, love theme parties. And if I could make a job of this, I would. But the economy is not that good to support these luxuries. But how fun it would be to have a place where kids could go and pick a theme...keeping the mess and work out of the house for the parents!

Taco Stuffed Pasta shells Recipe
1 hour 30 min prep
SERVES 5 -6
1 lb ground beef

1 envelope taco seasoning

1 (4 ounce) package cream cheese

12 large pasta shells

1 cup salsa

1 cup taco sauce

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese

1 1/2 cups crushed tortilla chips

1 cup sour cream

3 green onions, chopped

1. COOK BEEF

2. ADD TACO SEASONING AND PREPARE ACCORDING TO PKG DIRECTIONS

3. ADD CREAM CHEESE.

4. COVER AND SIMMER UNTIL CREAM CHEESE IS MELTED.

5. YOU CAN CHILL THE MEAT SO YOU CAN STUFF THE SHELLS EASIER.

6.POUR SALSA IN THE BOTTOM OF A GREASED 9 X 13 IN PAN.

7. WHILE THAMBURGER IS COOKING, COOK THE PASTA, DRAIN, TOSS WITH BUTTER.

8. FILL EACH SHELL.

9. PLACE IN BOTTOM OF PAN AND TOP WITH TACO SAUCE.

10. COVER AND BAKE AT 350 FOR 30 MINUTES.

11. UNCOVER,SPRINKLE WITH CHEESES AND CHIPS.

12.BAKE 15 MINUTES LONGER OR UNTIL HEATED THROUGH.

13. SERVE WITH SOUR CREAM, MORE SALSA, PICO DE GALLO, CHOPPED TOMATOES, SLICED JALAPENOS OR WHATEVER ELSE YOU THINK GOES GOOD WITH TACOS.