Mexican Stuffed Shells

I love this combination of an Italian dish made with Mexican flavors. Hopefully, you will too.

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef
1 package taco seasoning or cheesey taco seasoning.
4 oz. cream cheese
14-16 jumbo pasta shells
2 cups salsa
1 cup taco sauce
1 cup cheddar cheese
1 cup monterey jack cheese
3 green onions (optional)
Sour cream

In a frying pan cook ground beef; add taco seasoning and prepare according to package directions.  Add cream cheese, cover and simmer until cheese is melted. Blend well and add about 1/2 cup of salsa. Set aside and cool completely.  While ground beef is cooking, cook the pasta shells according to directions; drain. Set shells out individually on cutting board/baking sheet so that they don’t stick together.
Pour salsa on bottom of 9×13 baking dish.  Stuff each shell with the meat mixture. Place shells in 9×13 pan open side up. Cover shells with taco sauce.  Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
After 30 minutes, add shredded cheese and bake for 10-15 more minutes, with the foil removed.  Top with any condiments you’d like (green onions, black olives, etc.) Serve with sour cream and/or more salsa.