Italiano Heaven Manicotti

When I was a kid and we’d go to an Italian Restaurant… my staple dish that I ordered with out fail was always Manicotti.  It didn’t matter how many other delicious things there were on the menu, all I wanted was Manicotti. 

Those delicious little tubes of al dente pasta filled with soft creamy ricotta cheese & spinach topped with a light pink cream sauce… truly my idea of Italiano heaven!

Well my life seems to have come full circle, because my oldest boy follows in his mama’s footsteps!  Manicotti is now his all time fave and I aim to please!  So here is my family recipe for Manicotti that’s sure to become a favorite in your home!

Manicotti

1 Box Manicotti Shells

-cook according to directions on the box

Cheese & Spinach Filling

1 Container Ricotta Cheese

½ Package Frozen Chopped Spinach (thawed & drained)

1 clove of garlic minced

1 egg

2 Tablespoons Fresh Basil (finely sliced)

1 Teaspoon Garlic Salt

½ Cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Sauce

1 Can Tomato Sauce or Puree

1 Teaspoon Butter

½ Cup Light Cream

2 Tablespoons Light Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 Cloves of Garlic

½ Onion

3 or 4 big leaves of Fresh Basil

Salt & Pepper to taste

4 Slices of Mozzarella sliced in half

In a large bowl combine all ingredients for the Cheese & Spinach Filling.  Spoon into a large Ziplock bag and cut a corner off of the bottom… this way you can use it as a piping bag… (fun trick)  Place in refrigerator.

Combine all ingredients for the sauce and simmer for 10 minutes.  Remove onion, garlic cloves, & basil.

Pipe cheese mixture into each manicotti shell.  Fill one end, then fill the other… don’t try to fill the whole thing in one pipe… it won’t work and your shell will tear in half. 

Arrange in a single layer in a pyrex dish or casserole dish that’s been sprayed with non stick spray or a drizzle of olive oil. 

Spoon over the top a few spoonfuls of the pink sauce over the center of each filled Manicotti shell. 

Cover with aluminum foil and and bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.  Remove foil and add slices of mozzarella cheese on top of the Manicotti and put back in the oven for an addition 5-10 minutes until the cheese is ooey gooey and melted on top!