Lose your tummy by March 4. Eat pasta.

Faithful reader Lorlee Bartos asks, 
How were Wayne's stuffed shells? If they were good, why don't you print the recipe? (see post below featuring our smiling chef)

Lorlee, we are reheating the leftovers. The dish is wonderful. Toothsome. Inspired. And there is nothing like pasta leftovers. The recipe was an Emeril Lagasse concoction featured on the Food Network web site. Wayne is now gone, merrily making cabbage rolls with his sister in Phoenix. But we downloaded the recipe he seemed to be working off of, or one similar. Some times Wayne can be a bit private about recipes. This wasn't any secret, but we did sort of spy on him. We note that Wayne used real garlic and didn't use the "essence" mention in this recipe. 

Enjoy, Lorlee, and any others who want to give this a try. For our part, we'll enjoy our leftovers tonight.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 (12-ounce) box jumbo pasta shells (18 to 20 shells)
• 2 cups finely chopped onion
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 pound ground veal
• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 15 ounces ricotta cheese
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon Essence, recipe follows
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• Basic Red Sauce, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 2-quart casserole dish with 1 teaspoon of olive oil.

Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon of the salt and the pasta shells, and cook until al dente, 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally with a long-handled spoon to prevent the shells from sticking together. Drain and rinse under cold running water. Drain.

In a medium skillet, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring, until very soft, 6 to 7 minutes. Add the ground veal and cook, stirring, until cooked and browned. Add the squeezed spinach and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper.

In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese, and 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Add the spinach mixture, the extra-virgin olive oil, Essence, remaining teaspoon of salt, the basil, oregano, and pepper, and stir to combine thoroughly. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the spinach-ricotta filling into each cooked pasta shell. Place the filled shells in the prepared dish.

Pour the Basic Red Sauce over the filled shells and top with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Bake, uncovered, until bubbly, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Ill-fated, misbegotten

Kathleen loves her glasses.
About a year ago, after successful cataract surgery totally changed her prescription, she walked in to the Eden Prairie Pearle Vision in Minnesota and simply said "Sarah Palin."

The clerk knew exactly what she meant and before long Kathleen was sporting a snappy version of the fashionable eye ware favored by the controversial ex-governor.
Just recently, after our arrival in Arizona, Kathleen noticed that her glasses could still use a bit of tweaking. So, in all innocence, we pulled over and parked at the Pearle Vision corporate store on Oracle Road in Oro Valley, seeking a complimentary adjustment.
And thus begins our tale of unintended consumer persecution that continues on to this very day.
Optical stores, you are no doubt aware, are quite generous about making these tweaks, even if they didn't sell the eye ware. As Stan waited patiently in the sun with Birdie, Kathleen strolled inside and sat down, explaining that her stylin' glasses just didn't fit quite right. Pearle Vision Associate No. 1 immediately took the glasses in hand and, in short order, cracked a lens. Mortified, they waited as the manager came back from his coffee break. The manager was quite chagrined, gently scolded the newbie, and promised to make good on the error.
This he did by ringing up the Eden Prairie Pearle Vision franchise in Minnesota and requesting shipment of a replacement lens. Kathleen was disappointed as she left the Arizona store, but she still had the use of her Sarah Palin glasses; the crack fortunately didn't obstruct her vision. And Pearle Vision was taking full responsibility.
It took more than a week before the new Minnesota lens finally arrived in Arizona. When it did, Kathleen arranged for a fitting. Kathleen would be in the store area on Wednesday, she said. That wouldn't work, she was told, because the manager wanted to be the one to fit the lens, having lost confidence in Pearle Vision Associate No. 1. He wasn't working Wednesday.
So Kathleen drove there on Tuesday afternoon, at the manager's convenience.
Stan was leaning over a putt that same day when his cell phone tinkled.
It was Kathleen. Crushed.
"You won't believe this," she blurted. "He broke my lens."
"What? Who? You mean the expert broke your lens? You've got to be kidding."
"No. This time they're not cracked, they're broken. He broke them. Now I can't even wear them."
Incredulous and still shaken, Stan missed the easy putt while Kathleen made arrangements with an embarrassed manager who said he was sorry, but then admitted he really didn't want to have anything to do with this ill-fated, misbegotten, complimentary adjustment anymore. The replacement glasses will be shipped from Minnesota directly to our home this time . . . cutting out the reluctant Arizona middle-man. "You are taking this very nicely," he said, in an ironic, ham-handed compliment to his Minnesota Nice visitor.
Kathleen's broken pair has been sent overnight to Minnesota. This morning Kathleen phoned Minnesota to check the progress on things and spoke to Caroline, who has taken full charge of this epic. She promises swift resolution and a pair of tougher, polycarbonate Sarah Palin's by return express.
We hope. In the meantime, Kathleen has been promised a pair of complimentary reading glasses, made in Arizona, if she will drive down and pick them up. We hope she does. Last night Stan had to read aloud almost every word in the Harvest menu.
And when the Minnesota eye ware finally arrives in Arizona? Just who is going to fit them?
Probably not Pearle Version Associate No. 1. . . and certainly not her boss.

Small gathering has big heart

Late word has arrived via email from our Minnesota neighbors on Abbey Point in Shakopee. Our monthly neighborhood dinner, scheduled for the first Wednesday of every month, went off without a hitch in our absence as well as the absence of over a half-dozen other snowbirds presently in warmer climes. As proof of the success of the evening, vice photographer Tom Story dispatched a batch of pictures of the event and this note:

Stan:
Here's the gang at last night's Abbey Point Night. You can tell how small the February gathering is by the size of the table we reserved.

Missed you guys.
Tom

Based on the size of the photographs Tom produced (they're blown-up here to full size in these examples) the group isn't the only small thing from last night, but we present them, nonetheless, with our gratitude for being remembered by this kind group of hardy souls.
Then Tom remembered to email another photo from last night: Kevin and Jim, the Stonebrooke restaurant bartender and manager, who soldier on despite the winter's loss of golfing revenue.

Stan:
I missed an important picture. Jim and Kevin send their regards.

Tom
 

Tom Story Tax Services
PO Box 518
Shakopee MN 55379
612-619-0152

Some folks may think that being missed by a bartender suggests issues that need to be addressed. Not us. We're honored that the guys remember us. And if you're looking for a good tax service guy, give Tom a call. Don't everybody call, though. We want him to have enough time to join us with his wife for a few nights in Tucson before winter is over.

------------------

Stan and Kathleen were unable to phone in their customary regards to the Abbey Point gathering last night because they were enjoying dinner with friends at Harvest in Oro Valley. It was a lovely meal and good company, but Kathleen especially missed her Stonebrooke bartender because Harvest was unable to concoct a virgin Pina Coloda. This is one of the few drinks Kathleen truly enjoys. They came up with the sad excuse that "we don't have a blender." Never such lameness at Stonebrooke. Faster than Rupert Holmes could sing "If you like Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain,"  Kevin would have one blended and even enhanced with a scoop of ice cream. Sometimes there's no place like home.

Click here to see last night's menu: at Harvest.


Arlin had the Braised Country Pork Ribs; Marilyn had the House-Made Gnocchi; Wayne had the Lobster Mac’n Cheese; Stan had the Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna; and Kathleen had the Braised Kobe Beef.


The food was praised: Kathleen loved her beef, Stan was disappointed in his tuna dish, suffering a serious case of Diner's Remorse as he gazed at the more appetizing choices made by his tablemates, particularly the ribs and the beef.

Heading to Stone Canyon today

Stan and Wayne tee off this morning at Stone Canyon, a very fine private golf course nearby. They'll be guests of the chairman of the Minnesota newspaper company where Stan and Wayne managed separate divisions for about 30 years.

Happy Birthday, Birdie

She's One today.

With dedication. . .

Our house guest, Wayne Kasich, enjoyed a sunny Breakfast with Champions this morning in Cafe del Solveig, (left) as Kathleen used her lash-up outdoor kitchen (below) to fuel afternoon athletic activities for the men at her table.
Wayne has decided to generously dedicate this afternoon's round to his fellow Minnesota publishers, Steve Messick and Matthew McMillan, who remain at their respective posts despite the unkind gales of the economy and weather. At the close of 18 holes this afternoon, Wayne has promised to serve up a dieter's version of "Super Stuffed Shells," a sort of lasagna dish featuring jumbo pasta shells, ground veal, spinach, olive oil and three different cheeses. The recipe is featured under the optimistic home page heading "Lose Your Tummy by March 4."
We shall see.
As we speak, Wayne is chopping onions, mincing garlic (above), frying veal and stuffing shells (below). The entire house has taken on the distinctive smell of a gourmet kitchen. The aroma drew in Leno, our Italian neighbor, from across the street. He got all wobbly and nostalgic about his mother's kitchen as soon as he walked in the door. Wayne will finish up tonight and present his masterpiece to hungry diners at 7 p.m.. .  which is a fashionably late hour for his senior hosts.
This will allow ample time to raise a toast of icy Manhattans to dear colleagues Steve and Matt.

Chop, chop, good fellows.

The perfect guest. . . so far

Frannie may have been too bashful to model the new bathroom, but not Wayne. We spent a lovely day on the Saddlebrooke golf course, sun was bright with temps in the mid-60s. Katie had a hot meal ready to enjoy beside a setting sun. So far Wayne is the perfect guest. . . he sat through half an hour of Stan's Scotland movies without a whimper. Tomorrow it is on to the Ranch, after a breakfast we hope to have outdoors.

Wayne's coming

The retired publisher of the International Falls Daily Journal set his Garmin for Rock Crest this morning and is on his way in his rental car as we write. He's coming here from his sister's Phoenix address.
Wayne Kasich has guided Stan on many a fishing trip into the Canadian wilderness. Now it's our turn. There will be plenty to talk about this afternoon on the links: Stan and Wayne worked for the same publishing company a combined 70 years. Wednesday we'll be joined by the chairman of the board for another round and then a dinner at his Tucson home.
Wayne makes a great walleye shore lunch, but he's good in the kitchen too. We'll see if we can put him to work.