Cheesy Manicotti Food

CHEESY MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Cook pasta as directed on package, omitting salt. Meanwhile, heat large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add mushrooms and garlic; cook 5 min., stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Beat egg whites in medium bowl. Add mushroom mixture, spinach, ricotta and half each of the mozzarella and Parmesan; mix well.
• Drain pasta; fill with spinach mixture. Place in 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; cover with sauce.
• Bake 40 min. or until heated through. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan; bake 5 min. or until mozzarella is melted.

THE BEST CHEESE MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Cook the manicotti shells according to the directions on the box.
• Drain in colander and set aside to dry.
• Mix all the ricotta, 2 cups mozzarella, and 1/4 cup parmesan in a bowl.
• Add an extra handful of mozzarella and a little more parmesan if you like it cheesier.
• I like a lot of flavor in my manicotti so I just keep adding the basil and Italian seasoning until I think it’s enough.
• If you don’t like a lot of seasoning, just put 1 tsp.
• of each in.
• If not, just keep adding until it's seasoned to your taste.
• You can also add a dash of salt and pepper if you like or a little bit of garlic.
• Preheat oven to 350.
• Once the shells are drained and the cheese is mixed together, begin stuffing the shells.
• Be careful because they have a tendency to split.
• Pour about half of the marinara sauce in the bottom of the baking dish and spread evenly before you place the shells in the dish.
• Once all the shells arranged in the baking dish, pour the remainder of the marinara sauce on top.
• Then add any leftover cheese on top of the sauce.
• Sprinkle with basil and Italian seasoning.
• Cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake for about 30 minutes.

BEEF AND CHEESE MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Heat a heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon of the olive oil, onion and ground beef. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until the meat browns and the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, and cool.
• Brush 1 teaspoon of oil over a large baking sheet. Cook the manicotti in a large pot of boiling salted water until slightly softened, but still very firm to the bite, about 4 to 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the manicotti from the pot to the oiled baking sheet and cool.
• Meanwhile, combine the ricotta, 1 1/2 to 2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan, and parsley. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper to taste, and mix. Stir the cooled meat mixture into the cheese mixture.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Brush the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil over a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Spoon 1 1/2 cups of the marinara sauce over the bottom of the prepared dish. Fill the manicotti with the cheese-meat mixture. Arrange the stuffed pasta in a single layer in the prepared dish and spoon the remaining sauce over.
• Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese, then the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan over the stuffed pasta. Dot entire dish with the butter pieces. Bake the manicotti uncovered until heated through and the sauce bubbles on the sides of the dish, about 30 to 35 minutes. Let the manicotti stand 5 minutes and serve.

CHEESY VEGETABLE MANICOTTI

Steps:

• For the filling: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the zucchini and yellow squash, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until the squash softens but is not mushy, about 4 minutes. Pour the mixture into a medium bowl and let cool.
• Add the ricotta, Parmesan, parsley, egg, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to the cooled vegetables. Stir to combine.
• For the tomato sauce: In a food processor, pulse the tomatoes with their juices until they are coarsely ground or chop the tomatoes by hand. Transfer them to a bowl, add the salt and pepper, then stir in the basil.
• For the manicotti: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with oil or cooking spray.
• Transfer the filling mixture to a large resealable plastic bag. Snip a large hole out of one corner of the bag with scissors and use the bag to pipe the mixture into the cooked manicotti shells.
• Spread about 1 cup of the tomato sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Place the manicotti shells into the baking dish. Spread the remaining sauce over the manicotti. Top with the mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is melted, 35 to 40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

CHEESY MANICOTTI CREPES

Steps:

• In a large saucepan; combine the first 11 ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until sauce is reduced to 5 cups, stirring occasionally. , Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat eggs and water. Combine flour and salt; add to egg mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. In a large bowl, combine filling ingredients. Cover and refrigerate. , Heat 3/4 teaspoon oil in an 8-in. nonstick skillet. Stir crepe batter; pour a scant 3 tablespoons into center of skillet. Lift and tilt pan to coat bottom evenly. Cook until top appears dry; turn and cook 15-20 seconds longer. Remove to a wire rack. Repeat with remaining batter, using remaining oil as needed. When cool, stack crepes with waxed paper or paper towels in between., Spread about 1/4 cup filling down the center of each crepe; roll up and place 12 crepes in each of two greased 13x9-in. baking dishes. Spoon sauce over top. Cover and bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160&d

CHEESY CHICKEN MANICOTTI (OAMC)

Steps:

• Using one jar of sauce, spread an equal amount of sauce on the bottom of each 8"x8" pan.
• Using a butter knife spread a thin coat of ricotta cheese inside each manicotti noodle.
• Insert chicken into uncooked manicotti shells, choose which end to stuff from wisely, the tenders will fit but you have to squeeze them in gently.
• Fill in the ends of the manicotti with the remaining ricotta cheese.
• Place shells on spaghetti sauce in dish. To make five pans place 8-9 in each pan. To make 6 pans, place 7 in each pan.
• Pour remaining spaghetti sauce evenly over shells, covering completely. Add 1/4 cup of water to each pan.
• Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. STOP HERE.
• TO STORE IN REFRIGERATOR: Cover the unbaked manicotti tightly with aluminum foil. Refrigerate no longer than 24 hours.
• TO STORE IN FREEZER: Wrap unbaked manicotti tightly with labeled aluminum foil Or cover with foil and place in a labeled freezer bag. Freeze no longer than 1 month.
• TO COOK FROM REFRIGERATOR: Heat oven to 350 degrees and cook covered pan for 1 hour and fifteen minutes, or until noodles are tender.
• TO COOK FROM FREEZER: Heat oven to 350 degrees and cook covered pan for 1 hour and 50 minutes, or until noodles are tender.

MANICOTTI- CHEESE FILLED ITALIAN CREPES

Steps:

• Crepes.
• In either a blender or mixing bowl mix together the eggs and water first.
• Add flour into this slowly till smooth.
• Put in refrigerator for at least 1/2 hour. (this can be made a day before to save on time).
• While the crepe mixture is resting, start on the filling.
• In a large bowl mix together the Ricotta, Pecorino Romano cheese, Mozzarella, basil, parsley, eggs and pepper.
• Mix till all ingredients are incorporated.
• Cover and put in refrigerator till needed.
• After the crepe mixture has rested for 1/2 hour you can start to prepare them. I use an 8-inch non-stick fry pan. You can use one of them or a crepe pan. Just make sure it's non stick. Very important!
• Heat the pan on medium heat. Once heated spray with Pam till bottom and sides are covered.
• Pour 1/3 cup of the batter into the pan and swirl and tilt till the bottom of the pan is covered evenly. Return to burner. (If you think you need more or less mixture in the pan adjust accordingly. You want a thin even layer on the bottom of your pan).
• Let it cook till the top of the crepe appears dry. About 1 minute or so. When you first put the mixture in the pan, the top is "wet" looking, slowly it will start to look "dry". Once it's all dry, take a butter knife or spatula and slide under the crepe and flip over. cook for 5 seconds more.
• The crepe should slide out of the pan onto your surface. I put a sheet of aluminum foil on my counter and as I made the crepes I just slide them out onto the foil till they cool. Once cooled you can arrange them on the foil so they overlap each other.
• Spray you pan again with Pam and make another crepe. Do this till all the batter is gone. This recipe makes approx 16-20 crepes.
• Preheat your oven to 325°F.
• Take a baking pan (13x9-inch or larger) and cover the bottom with sauce. The sauce should be room temperature, so that the cheese doesn't melt out of the crepe while you are filling them.
• To assemble the crepe, place about 2 tablespoons of the filling in a line across the crepe and roll it up. place them seam side down in the pan.
• Continue doing that till the pan is full. Based on what size pan you use, that will determine how many you can get in the pan.
• Any extra manicotti that you roll that doesn't fit in the pan can be frozen and kept in a freezer bag for at least 3 months. In the description above I tell you how to recook them.
• Once the pan is full, put another layer of sauce on top of the stuffed manicotti till they are all covered.
• Cover pan tightly in foil.
• Place in 325°F preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes.
• Take foil off and sprinkle the remaining cup of shredded Mozzarella evenly on the top.
• Put back in oven till cheese melts and slightly browns (approx 5-10 minutes).
• Take out of oven and let rest at least 10 minutes and Enjoy!
• Serve with a nice salad and a warm loaf of Italian bread and you have a great meal!

CHEESY SPINACH MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Spray large nonstick skillet with cooking spray.
• Add mushrooms and garlic; cook 5 minute on medium heat, stirring frequently.
• Remove from heat.
• Beat egg whites lightly in medium bowl.
• Add mushroom mixture, spinach, ricotta cheese and half each of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses; mix well.
• Check for seasoning.
• Spoon evenly into manicotti shells.
• Place in 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
• Cover with spaghetti sauce.
• BAKE 40 minutes or until heated through.
• Top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses; continue baking 5 minute or until mozzarella cheese is melted.

CHEESE MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, mix the first 6 ingredients; stir in 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. In another bowl, mix marinara sauce and water; spread 3/4 cup sauce onto bottom of a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Fill uncooked manicotti shells with ricotta mixture; arrange over sauce. Top with remaining sauce., Bake, covered, 50 minutes or until pasta is tender. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, 10-15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. If desired, top with additional parsley.

CHEESE STUFFED MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F
• Bring 5 quarts of water to a rapid boil. For best results, add 1 tablespoons of salt.
• Add pasta and stir; return to rapid boil.
• Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 6 minutes.
• Remove noodles from boiling water and place them in a bowl of cold water. Tubes will be firm; making them easy to fill but will finish cooking and become soft and tender while cooking in the oven.
• In a large bowl stir together ricotta cheese, 1-1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, eggs, parsley and seasonings.
• Pour enough spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a 13x9-inch pan to just cover the bottom of the pan.
• Spoon about 1/3 cup cheese mixture into each pasta tube; place in the pre-sauced pan.
• Pour the remainder of sauce over filled pasta; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
• Cover with foil; bake 35 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
• Remove from the oven and serve.

THREE-CHEESE BROCCOLI MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Bring a pot of generously salted water to a boil.
• Meanwhile, separate broccoli stems and florets. Cut florets in half and cut each stem into several pieces lengthwise.
• Place stems in the boiling water and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Then add florets and cook until just barely tender, about 3 more minutes.
• Use a slotted spoon to transfer broccoli to a bowl of cold water, leaving the water boiling on the stove. Let broccoli sit until cool, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a colander and let sit until very well drained. Leave the bowl of cold water for the pasta.
• Meanwhile, add manicotti to the boiling water and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender but slightly undercooked, 6 to 7 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to gently transfer manicotti into the bowl of cold water.
• Chop cooled, drained broccoli into small pieces. Transfer 3 cups chopped broccoli to a mixing bowl and reserve any extra for another use.
• Add garlic, ricotta, provolone, 1 ¼ cups Parmigiano-Reggiano, eggs, salt, cayenne, pepper, and nutmeg to the broccoli. Mix with a spoon until thoroughly combined. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bring tomato sauce and water to a simmer over medium-high heat.
• Ladle ½ inch hot sauce into a 9x13-inch baking dish or lasagna pan. Sprinkle in cooked Italian sausage.
• Transfer broccoli filling into a pastry bag. Cut off the tip slightly smaller than the opening of the manicotti. Gently pipe stuffing into 12 manicotti, being careful not to overstuff. Place stuffed manicotti in the sauce in the baking dish, angling as necessary to fit.
• Ladle in just enough sauce to barely cover the manicotti. Sprinkle ¼ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano over top.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until hot and bubbly, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Garnish with parsley and let sit for 10 minutes.
• Serve two manicotti per bowl, garnished with more Parmigiano-Reggiano.

BEEF & CHEESE MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cook the manicotti in a large pot of boiling salted water until slightly softened, but still firm if eaten. Be careful not to let them get too soft or it makes stuffing them very difficult.
• Heat a large pan over medium heat.
• Saute the ground beef and onion in olive oil.
• Remove from the heat and let cool.
• Brush a small amount of oil over a large baking sheet and Place the firmly cooked manicotti on it to cool.
• Meanwhile combine the ricotta, 1 1/2-2 cups of mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup of Parmesan.
• Add the minced garlic, salt & pepper to taste, and mix.
• Stir the cooled meat mixture with the cheese mixture.
• Brush another small amount of oil over a 13 by 9 glass baking dish.
• Spoon 1 1/2 cups of the spaghetti sauce over the bottom of the prepared dish.
• Fill the manicotti with the cheese and meat mixture, being careful not to break the noodles.
• Arrange the stuffed pasta in a single layer in the dish and spoon the remaining sauce over the manicotti.
• Sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella and the parmesan cheese over the pasta.
• Place the small butter pieces all over the dish.
• Bake the stuffed manicotti uncovered until heated through. The sauce will bubble on the sides of the dish, takes around 35 minutes.
• Let the manicotti stand for about 5 minutes.
• Serve.