Thursday, January 13, 2011

Recipe of the Week: Spinach Cheese Manicotti

I tried this recipe last night and combined the recipe from E-Mealz (we LOVE E-Mealz) with the recipe from the box of manicotti AND changed it up a little to suit Eddie. (It was vegetarian and he read the recipe and said "What meat are we having?")

Ingredients:

* 8 oz. shredded mozzarella, divided
* 16 oz (or more! I used more!) of ricotta cheese
* 10 oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed according to pkg directions and drained
* 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (I like the refrigerated shaved kind...not the green can!)
* 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
* 1/4 tsp salt
* 1/4 tsp pepper
* 8 oz pkg manicotti
* 1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
* 26 oz. jar tomato basil pasta sauce (I needed MORE than 26 oz. because I added the beef to the original recipe!)

1. Start manicotti boiling. Once finished, drain and set aside to cool.
2. Brown ground beef. Add sauce to simmer.
3. Combine 1 1/2 cup mozzarella, all of the ricotta, spinach, parmesan, oregano, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl.
4. Spray 9x13 pan. Spread a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of the pan.
5. When manicotti has cooled, spoon (or use a Ziplock) about 3 tbsp. cheese mixture into each manicotti. Arrange manicotti into pan.
5. Top with sauce. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella over top.
6. Bake at 375* for 35 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand ten minutes.

1 comment:

Laura said...

i make this alot, it freezes really well!!