Manicotti

Warning: This is not your grandma's Manicotti, it might just be better

Part 1  Mushroom spinach pesto

1  bag or bunch of spinach 

1  8oz container mushrooms

1 small onion
1 clove garlic

2 Tbs olive oil 

2 Tbs butter

Brown the meat using a cast iron frying pan to increase the Iron

Directions

Press garlic, add to oil in frying pan on low heat, chop onion and add to pan, chop mushrooms and add to pan. Add butter and sauté. Add rinsed spinach and then set aside.

Cheese stuffing

1/2 of a 5oz container of grated Ricotta 

1/2 of a 5oz container of grated Ramona

Same for Asiago

And the following cheeses

Parmesan 

Mozzarella

Use a small spoon to stuff the shells.

2 cups Yogurt or sour cream (I use yogurt)

1 tsp Italian seasoning 

1 clove of Garlic

And for the meat lovers in our life: 1 lb Italian sausage (I used hot spiced sausage)

Mix cheeses, yogurt, and spices together then mix in cooked meat for the meat lovers, or skip this for the vegetarians, then add the pesto and you are ready to stuff your shells

This recipe makes enough stuffing for 1 1/2 boxes of Manicotti tubes and a jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce.

After all the pasta tubes are filled, pour jar of sauce over the top and sprinkle any or all of the leftover cheeses on top. My husband would plead with you to sprinkle all of the cheeses. All of them. Put into the oven at 375 degrees, uncovered for 25 minutes

Enjoy and please leave comments after you try out the recipe!
May you find comfort in your life.