Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Celebrate National Pasta Day with Classico {Review & Giveaway - 5 winners!}

Classico logo
While I am always a fan of trying new recipes, I'm the first to admit that the results... aren't always quite what you'd call a hit.

And you know, it's pretty disappointing to have spent the time, money and energy getting ingredients and putting together a meal just to see your kids pick at it and your husband pretend to enjoy it (even when said husband isn't a good liar so there's no point in him not just being honest).

So is it any wonder that we tend to stick with our same menu rotation week after week?

Fortunately, even though we may not always branch out and try something unique, it doesn't mean that we can't still celebrate the classics that we love... and there's no better day than October 17th as National Pasta Day!

National Pasta Day

That's right, National Pasta Day is October 17 and it is time to pay tribute to the perfection of pasta!

In the spirit of the occasion, Classico suggested we break away from the same old standard spaghetti and instead try creating a delicious new dish with one of their mouthwatering sauces. As we opened up the box containing our "Classic Creations" kit, it was clear that the most difficult decision would be deciding which of the two exclusive Classico recipes we should try.

pasta pot

Their new seasonal sauce, Classico Seasonal Selections Creamy Spinach & Parmesan, would be perfect in their Classic Lasagna as well as their Classic Stuffed Shells. How in the world would I choose?

After turning the decision over to my family, our Classic Stuffed Shells were underway.

Classic Stuffed Shells
Serves: 6
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 50 minutes

Ingredients

1 jar (24 oz.) Classico Creamy Spinach & Parmesan Seasonal Sauce
18 jumbo shell pasta
1/2 pound sweet or hot italian-style bulk sausage
2/3 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese, divided
15 ounces ricotta cheese
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Directions

1. Preheat oven 350°F. Cook pasta al dente according to package instructions and drain.

2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium high heat, brown sausage, onions and garlic for 5 to 6 minutes, or until cooked through, stirring until small sausage crumbles form. Add Pasta Sauce and stir until well mixed. Spoon half of sauce mixture evenly into bottom of 13x9 baking dish.

3. In a medium bowl, mix together 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese and egg. Stuff each shell with about 2 Tbsp. of cheese mixture. Arrange stuffed shells in baking dish and spoon remaining sauce mixture evenly on top.

4. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and sprinkle remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and parsley on top. Bake for additional 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

stuffed shells recipe
I omitted the sausage (two vegetarians in our family) as well as the onions (the girls won't eat anything with them) and this still came out looking marvelous!

As soon as I had the pan out of the oven, any doubt that I had about this dish was gone as the aroma alone had my stomach growling! While we have eaten stuffed shells in the past, the combination of green spinach, plump tomatoes, parmesan cheese and cream in the Classico Creamy Spinach & Parmesan Seasonal Sauce definitely turned this dish into something special!

Classic Stuffed Shells recipe

After only a few bites, Big Sister E first declared this meal "The bestest thing in the world," with a completely unprompted followup of, "I like this because of the cheese and the sauce. The sauce is really good." Coming from a child that typically doesn't like sauce of any kind on her pasta, that is a rave review!

thumbs up

Whether your family contains fans of red sauces, alfredo sauces, pesto sauces or more, Classico is sure to have them... along with many other varieties that just might be the next favorite! We will definitely be having these Classic Stuffed Shells again and I can foresee us picking up another bottle of the Classico Creamy Spinach & Parmesan Seasonal Sauce while it is available so that we can try the Classic Lasagna as well!

Be sure to visit Classico.com for a list of their large assortment of products, all sorts of delicious recipes, a savings coupon and more. Plus, thanks to their generosity, five people will soon be able to celebrate their own National Pasta Day as well, because...

Five lucky people will win (1) VIP coupon for a free jar of Classico sauce! 


(Enter with the Rafflecopter form below. If you have any questions or problems entering, there is a video tutorial found here that can help.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In the spirit of full-disclosure, I’ve partnered with Classico and received product, coupons, premium items and reader giveaway coupons as part of my participation. However, no payment was given or expected for posting about the program, and as always, all opinions given here are fully my own.

252 comments:

«Oldest   ‹Older   1 – 200 of 252   Newer›   Newest»
Suburban prep said...

Vodka Sauce

Jessica Allen said...

Creamy Spinach & Parmesan Sounds Yummy!

MyCatKevin said...

Alfredo all the way!!

Anonymous said...

Tomato and basil

Jan Lee said...

I love Alfredo sauce and I want to come eat at your house, lol

Denise S. said...

I want to try the Tomato and Basil sauce.

Daphne Turner said...

Creamy Alfredo

lilmagicmama said...

I would love to try the Organic Herbs and Spices, sounds yummy!

Chelsea said...

The light alfredo sauces!

Marti Tabora said...

I would like to try the creamy alfredo sauce.

Anonymous said...

Marinara with tomatoes.

EliB123 said...

Traditional Pizza Sauce

julie said...

Creamy Alfredo

Unknown said...

Italian Sausage with Peppers and Onions

Hetal said...

I would try creamy alfredo sauce.

Unknown said...

Fire Roasted Pizza Sauce

LesleyfromWI said...

I have never tried the Pesto and
Bruschetta

Sandy VanHoey said...

I would like to try the new Creamy Spinach & Parmesan

jessica said...

The Sun-dried Tomato Pesto looks delicious!

jek9880 at gmail dot com

wigget said...

the vodka sauce

melissa griffith said...

I'm all about the roasted red pepper alfredo sauce.

melgriff4@yahoo.com

Candice said...

I would try the Sun-dried Tomato Pesto.

Unknown said...

I'd love to try the Organic Tomato, Herbs and Spices. Mmm!
Sml Footprints

aperry said...

Creamy Alfredo

Anonymous said...

The vodka sauce looks yummy thank you

Anonymous said...

Pesto & Brushetta:)

jmatek AT wi DOT rr DOT com

Wild N Mild $$$ said...

Creamy Alfredo
Jennifer Rote
wildnmild4u at yahoo dot com

pinktaz60 said...

Betsy Rubendall Barnes
pinktaz60@hotmail.com

I would like to try the Classico Caramelized Onion and Roasted Garlic on my pasta :)

Jackie said...

I'd like to try the Marinara with Plum Tomatoes...and the Pizza Sauce.
Thanks!

john said...

Pizza Sauce

Anonymous said...

Light Alfredo for sure

AmyJRockstar said...

Creamy Spinach & Parmesan sounds great!

XO ~ Amy Jo (follower)
amyjrockstar at gmail dot com
http://lv2scrapandfibrofacts.blogspot.com

carole said...

I make my own pizza dough and would like to try this
Fire Roasted Pizza Sauce

Leslie Rigsby said...

I haven't seen many of these in my local stores. I would like to try Spicy Red Pepper.

cloud10277 said...

I'd like to try the Sun-dried Tomato Alfredo sauce.
cloud10277@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

http://www.classico.com/red-sauces/mushroom-and-ripe-olives-pasta-sauce.aspx/ Thank You. Jerri Davis

apple blossom said...


Caramelized Onion and Roasted Garlic

debbie said...

I want to try the mushroom and ripe olives sauce, it sounds really good.

Julie R said...

I would like to try creamy spinach and Parmesan. julierupert@gmai.com

Unknown said...

I like the Tomato & Basil sauce.

Melinda said...

Pesto and Bruschetta sounds delish!

debijackson said...

marinara with tomatoes
debbie jackson
djackson1958 at hotmail dot com

Laurel said...

Tomato and Basil...yum!
alwaysneedhim4evr@yahoo.com

B. Wilson @ Windy {City} Wilsons said...

tomato and basil

Jessica said...

I want to try the Roasted Poblano Alfredo

Ellen said...

Marinara with Plum Tomatoes

kafkaesk at verizon dot net

jmajor4870 said...

i would like the Spicy Red Pepper

scottsgal said...

I'd try the tomato basil

s said...

Tomato /Basil

Cserafini said...

Creamy alfredo!

Unknown said...

Mushroom olive red sauce looks great
Ttrockwood@yahoo.com

Colleen Maurina said...

I would like to try their Tuscan Olive and Garlic Sauce.

colljerr at comcast dot net

Cindy Merrill said...

I would like to see if the Creamy Spinach & Parmesan Classico sauce would add a new twist to my Tuna Noodle casserole.

The Mickelsens said...

Good old tomato and basil casidyanne at hot mail dot com

chantal cooper said...

Mushroom and Ripe Olives

JJ said...

Alfredo Sauce is one our favorite sauces. gahome2mom/gmail/com

Seyma Bennett Shabbir said...

The ALfredo Sauce
seyma_bennett@hotmail.com

Trish said...

Love Vodka Sauce!

sunfunn2002 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

Creamy Spinach & Parmesan
rierie11booger (@) yahoo.com

deallieb said...

I'd like to try the Creamy Spinach & Parmesan

Nicole Larsen said...

I'd like to try the Four Cheese or the pizza sauce

pittsy82@hotmail.com

chris z said...

i want to try Mushroom Alfredo

Anonymous said...

Portobello, Crimini & Champignon Mushroom


maynekitty///at///live///com

Anonymous said...

I love the Italian Sausage with Peppers and Onions

bison61 said...

Tomato and basil

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Unknown said...

The mushroom alfredo.

Bridget said...

I would love to try the creamy spinach and parmesan.

BethElderton said...

The Creamy Spinach & Parmesan sounds delicious!
bethelderton59 at gmail dot com

CindyWindy2003 said...

want to try fire-roasted-tomato-and-garlic-pasta-sauce
carawling(at)hotmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

The Florentine Spinach & cheese sauce looks wonderful.

AmandaC said...

I'd like the Marinara Sauce with Plum Tomatoes! Yum!

Anonymous said...

We love the spicy because you can't find that anywhere else. However, I just bought a jar of the spinach sauce and now have a recipe to use it with.

Kimberly said...

Basil Pesto
Kims2312@verizon.net

sweepmom said...

I would like to try the Cabernet Marinara with Herbs.

Leann said...

The tuscan olive and garlic sounds great! chefl@swbell.net

Laura C said...

Creamy Alfredo

Kayla said...

Creamy Alfredo for sure!

callbr549 said...

I would like the Creamy Spinach & Parmesan sauce. :0

vgsaxon(at)gmail(dot)com

Tawny said...

Organic spinach and garlic for sure!!

Becca said...

I would try Roasted Garlic Alfredo

Flowerg said...

The Caramelized Onion and Roasted Garlic sauce sounds yummy. Thanks!

romapup at gmail dot com

Heather! said...

Classico makes my favorite store-bought pasta sauces! I love several varieties, including the Mushroom Alfredo and Creamy Spinach and Parmesan. YUM!!

Thanks!
h4schaffer at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Very nice pasta recipe. thank for sharing.
Joint Replacement India

Hanna said...

Creamy Alfredo. Now I'm hungry.

jcwega27 said...

tomato basil
jessicawedwards@gmail.com

Emily said...

Tuscan Olive and Garlic
pinkrose6785@hotmail.com

Evans S said...

Caramelized Onion and Roasted Garlic
alliana88m At yahoo DOt com

RJ said...


Light Asiago Romano Alfredo

rjwhiggins@aol.com

Kristy Thiel said...

I'd like to try the four cheese. Thanks for hosting!

puye said...

Tomato and basil

agnesye@hotmail.com

PAIGE said...

I want to try the Four Cheese.
elysesw@aol.com

tatertot374 said...

alfredo sauce

Amy L said...

I'd like to try the Light Asiago Romano Alfredo

Kelly Massman said...

I'd like to try the mushroom alfredo! thanks

kyl neusch said...

Marinara with tomatoes

lilyk said...

I would like to try the Mushroom Alfredo sauce.

Jessica said...

I would love Fire-Roasted Tomato and Garlic
jjak2003 at gmail dot com

Frugal Tumbleweed Acres said...

I'd love to try the Mushroom Alfredo Classico Sauce.
gourdsrmylife(at)yahoo(dot)com

Laura S said...

I want to try the basil pesto. lsenko83 @ yahoo.com

SavingMoneyWife said...

Anything with garlic, or the vodka sauce!

Anonymous said...

Four Cheese for me Please

pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thank you

Selinda said...

I'd like to try the Tomato and Basil !

Thanks,

selinda_mccumbers at yahoo.com

Alicia said...

Sundried pesto, I've never seen that one before

Dave said...

roasted poblano alfredo...different! entered as Davis

Emily N. said...

Four Cheese Alfredo

susie said...

caramelized onion sounds great.

swiener1[at]tampabay.rr.com

lyndsey said...

vodka sauce!

Leslie Rigsby said...

Spicy red pepper.

Unknown said...

the mushroom alfrado

polly said...

i would love to try their alfredo sauce so i can make chicken & broccoli alfredo

Contest Kim said...

Creamy Alfredo!
contestkim25@gmail.com

virgomomwriter said...

Creamy Spinach & Parmesan!!!

llinda29 said...

tomato basil

Unknown said...

The traditional sweet basil sounds pretty good!

Terri Patillo said...

I like the Italian Sausage with Peppers and Onions

Terri P
pr4gatheringroses AT gmail DOT com

sparkedcat said...

I want to try the Creamy Spinach & Parmesan sauce

CherylS22 said...

Traditional Sweet Basil

Kelly Blackwell @ Heres My Take On It said...

I'd like to try their Asiago Romano Alfredo sauce. :)

Thank you for the chance!

Brad Merrell said...

Traditional Pizza Sauce

judy gardner said...

vodka sauce

velvetelvis46@yahoo.com

Gina @ MoneywiseMoms said...

The sundried tomato pesto

Unknown said...

I would love all the Alfredo sauces. :-)

Unknown said...

4 cheese
Thanks for the giveaway! Janna Johnson jannajanna@hotmail.com GFC: janna@feedyourpig

Ann Fantom said...


I would like to try Classico's Spicy Red Pepper sauce

abfantom at yahoo dot com

Allison said...

creamy alfredo!

afm626 at yahoo.com

wrightfunds said...

caramelized onion and roasted garlic...Yum!

Fari said...

I'd like to try their Sun Dried Tomato Pesto

kelly said...

Carmelized onion and garlic.

ReviewsSheRote said...

Tomato and basil

Danielle said...

Roasted Poblano Alfredo sounds yummy!

The Happy Wife/Danielle Garcia
Ldsmom2201 (at) yahoo (dot) com
http://juanshappywife.blogspot.com
Twitter: The_Happy_Wife

Allison Downes said...

I want to try Creamy Alfredo

Thanks for the tasty giveaway

Anonymous said...

alfredo but i bet they all taste good thank you star95011()yahoo()com

yyeres said...

Mushroom Alfredo

Unknown said...

I really want to try the Vodka sauce!

Sara said...

I would like to try the Tomato & Basil

MELINA said...

I would like to try creamy alfredo sauce

casaflamingos said...

love the red sauce

Anonymous said...

Yum alfredo!

ann said...

creamy alfredo please

Marysa said...

Alfredo or Basil Pesto!
Marysa {at} marysa {dot} com

Debra Guillen said...

creamy Alfredo (Debra L. Guillen)

Anonymous said...

Classico Creamy Spinach & Parmesan

Annmarie Weeks said...

I'd love to try their Four Cheese Alfredo!

Jennifer Isbell said...

love to try the creamy alfredo

Karen F said...

Creamy Alfredo

Karla said...

Creamy Alfredo

Pricousins said...

I'd love to try the Light Asiago Romano Alfredo

Jennifer T. said...

I'd love to try the Tuscan Olive and Garlic red sauce.

Katherine said...

garlic alfredo !

Lloyd Family said...

i would like to try the roasted garlic
jenny lloyd

Unknown said...

the roasted poblano alfredo sounds yummy
darleneysaguirre@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I would like to try creamy alfredo

freddie said...

I would love to try their Four Cheese Sauce. dwelchert@yahoo.com

Theresa said...

I would like to try the alfrado!

cc_girly(at)yahoo(dot)com

Dawn said...

I would like to try the Creamy Alfredo Sauce!

Rusti Michael said...

I would like to try the Spicy Red Pepper sauce. YUM!

Ronds said...

Alfredo

Anonymous said...

Four cheese alfredo

Rae Madison said...

Alfredo Sauce!

Kelley F said...

Italian Sausage with Peppers and Onions.

Francofamily4@aol.com

donna fajardo said...

we love this sauce with slices of sauteed italian sausage, yum

Connie said...

The cheesy Alfredo sounds good right now.

Dana said...

Pizza sauce.

Rajani said...

Classic creamy alfredo sauce

Carrie said...

The creamy alfredo...one of my family's favorite meals requires alfredo. :-)

Ann Marie said...

Creamy Spinach & Parmesan Sounds Yummy!
G

Vickie @Vickie's Kitchen and Garden said...

4 cheese sounds good
vickie

Unknown said...

Four Cheese!

MeghanM said...

Alfredo, of course!

J said...

The new Roasted Poblano looks really good. I'd love to try it.

Megan said...

creamy spinach and parmesan sounds really good!

Ginobeth said...

I would love to try the Creamy Spinach and Parmesan.

Roy F. said...

I'd like to try Classico Italian Sausage with Peppers and Onions sauce

Giveaway Gal said...

vodka sauce or alfredo

♡♥♬ Louis ♬♥♡ said...

I love the Sun-dried Tomato Alfredo

Thank you for hosting this giveaway

Louis
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com

Kaila said...

Creamy Alfredo!

Joyce said...

Classico Creamy Spinach & Parmesan looks amazing

rebecca11111 said...

Tomato and Basil i love it

Running In Boise said...

light alfredo sauce

Unknown said...

Creamy Spinach and Parmesean

Realia Mazing said...

the alfredo sauce looks good
daniellex at gmail dot com

cman said...

Traditional Pizza Sauce.

corey1971 said...

Tomato and Basil (Corey Olomon)

Auri Lae said...

I'd love to try the Portabello, Crimini & Champignon mushroom sauce - what can I say, I love mushrooms!

Stephanie said...

I would like to try the Four Cheese Alfredo
dark_princess_ar(at)aol(dot)com

Sarah Hall said...

The Creamy Spinach and Parmesan sauce.

1porkchop said...

I like the four cheese al fredo. I prefer al fredo sauce over tomato based sauces.

colbaby said...

I love the alfredo and I can get both my kids to eat it too!

Unknown said...

I'd love to try the Light Asiago Romano Alfredo

Gina F. said...

I would like to try the Classico Vodka Sauce.

ginaferrell3 at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

i would love the creamy alfredo

Kelly g said...

four cheese

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Diane W said...

Basil Pesto is one I would like to try.

Unknown said...

Vodka Sauce

Missybeez said...

I would like the vodka sauce.

honeybeez80@yahoo.com

Mom Knows Best said...

Classico Creamy Spinach & Parmesan Seasonal Sauce

ky2here said...

Pesto and Bruschetta if I can find it

Unknown said...

I'll try the Creamy Alfredo, thanks!
hondaray6 at hotmail dot com

savvygirl65 said...

Creamy Alfredo
Sherri J savvyblog@yahoo.com

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