You may recall that I have decided to try at least one new recipe per week. Last week was chicken stroganoff that I modified to the point of it probably not really being stroganoff. This week I made spinach stuffed manicotti.
How in the world does one cook manicotti noodles? This was my first attempt and the majority of them ended up tearing. Honestly, it made the stuffing of the manicotti much easier. I slathered on the filling, rolled it up, and plopped it in the pan. The few noodles that didn't tear were a pain to fill. But I am curious as to how one would keep the noodles whole if that was the desired outcome. Please let me in on the secret!
Here were my sad little manicotti noodles after they were cooked.
This next picture is of all the little stuffed manicotti noodles smothered in the spaghetti sauce.
And here was the finished product. I probably could have let the cheese get a little more melty but it was still good.
Again, I made a few modifications to the original recipe, although not as many as last week. I didn't have any crushed red pepper flakes on hand so I used Italian seasoning instead. I used garlic powder instead of real garlic. I also added salt and pepper after it was cooked.
After dinner thoughts...
- I think this would be really good with chicken added to the filling.
- I would probably try this recipe again because it was fairly easy. However, I have at least 3 more servings that are now in the freezer since I was the only one who ate it so it will be a while.
- Really, how do you cook manicotti without it tearing?
5 comments:
I'll ask my husband if he knows how to cook manicotti. Looks delicious!
I make manicotti a lot. It's Dan's favorite meal! The key is not to cook it too long--only 4 minutes TOPS. Use salted water, and stir often so they don't stick. Even if they're still a bit crunchy they'll soften when you bake them. I have made a chicken manicotti, and it was delicious. Here's the link to my recipe: http://ethanzachemma.blogspot.com/2008/02/valentines-day-recipes.html
Oh, and for the filling--Put your filling in a large ziploc bag, and cut the corner off, and squeeze the filling right into the manicotti. Easy peasy! E-mail me if you have any other questions! ;-)
P.S. Mike eats spinach???????
Whoops, forgot to say my version is NOT the chicken kind. But I've made that kind. You know what I mean. ;-)
Good for you for even attempting to make manicotti! The only noodle I stuff is the large shells.
Sorry to hear that you were the only one who would touch it "with a ten foot pole". But at least you have a back up in the freezer on those nights when you just don't feel like cooking or stare blankly in the pantry. ;-)
I think your manicotti looks yummy. If you are looking for some new recipes try my blog. I post a new one every week. http://myfamilythroughfood.blogspot.com
Post a Comment