Christmas Eve Manicotti Food

CHRISTMAS EVE MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Whisk 4 eggs and 1/4 teaspoon salt together in a bowl; gradually whisk flour into eggs, alternating with milk, to make a smooth batter. Whisk melted butter into batter; refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• Pour vegetable oil into a small bowl. Heat a small skillet over medium heat; brush skillet with vegetable oil using a pastry brush. Ladle in enough batter to lightly cover the bottom of the skillet, about 1/4 cup; swirl skillet to cover bottom completely. Cook crepe until it turns lightly golden brown on the bottom; flip and cook until other side has small brown spots. Repeat with remaining batter, brushing the skillet with oil as needed to prevent crepes from sticking; set cooked crepes aside between layers of waxed paper.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Lightly mix spinach, ricotta cheese, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley, green onion, onion powder, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 2 eggs in a bowl until filling is thoroughly combined.
• Spread 1 cup marinara sauce into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Place a crepe onto a work surface and spoon about 3 tablespoons filling, or more as needed, in a line down the center of each crepe. Roll crepe over filling and set into sauce in pan; repeat with remaining crepes and filling, laying filled crepes into pan. Spread remaining marinara sauce over filled crepes. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbling and mozzarella cheese is melted and slightly browned, 20 to 30 minutes.

SEAFOOD MANICOTTI WITH SHRIMP

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the Manicotti pasta to the boiling water and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Thaw and drain the frozen organic spinach in a fine mesh colander, then drain excess water off the spinach by placing in a clean dish towel and wringing all water out.
• Prepare the broccolini by cleaning and stripping the leaves from stalks.
• Place the broccolini and thinly sliced garlic in the bottom of a baking dish, lightly drizzle with the extra-virgin olive oil, season with kosher salt, and ground black pepper. Give the broccolini a few turns to evenly coat with the olive oil, arrange the broccolini with the flowers to the outside walls of the dish, alternating right to left for a uniform appearance.
• Clean one pound of shrimp by removing all the shells and mud vein. Finely chop the shrimp into small pieces.
• In a large bowl, gently mix together the ricotta, ½ of a cup of Organic Parmesan shreds, thawed and drained of all water, frozen organic spinach, chopped parsley leaves, chopped crab, kosher salt, fresh ground pepper, the pinch of hot pepper flakes, and 1 egg yolk.
• Gently and patiently fill the Manicotti with the shrimp and cheese mixture and place on top of the bed of broccolini. You can use a small spoon or a freezer bag that has the end cut off to pipe in the manicotti shells.
• Top the filled manicotti with your favorite simple pasta Sauce, and top with the remaining Organic Parmesan shreds
• Bake until bubbly and the top is golden brown, about 20 minutes.
• Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

CHRISTMAS VACATION MANICOTTI CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions; drain & set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350; grease a 13x9 pan; set aside.
• Meanwhile, melt 3 T of the butter in a large skillet, add the 'shrooms and garlic; saute until mushroom liquid is absorbed; transfer to a large bowl.
• Melt remaining tablespoon of butter; drop spinach bits into that and stir to coat--quickly; add this to the mushroom mixture.
• Stir in ricotta, parmesan, egg, salt and pepper.
• Spoon mixture into a LARGE ziplock bag, snip the corner off and squeeze filling into shells; place shells into prepared pan.
• Melt remaining butter, over low heat; whisk in flour until smooth; cook ONE minute to let it become golden brown.
• Whisk in half-n-half/cream, cook at medium heat, whisking constantly until it's thick and bubbly; stir in salt; add favorite cheese, stirring well until it is completely melted; pour over stuffed shells.
• Toast the bread, cut into small cubes (toast again to get maximum crispiness--without overly BROWNING).
• Combine in a bowl, the crumbs with shredded cheese mixture and melted butter; toss this and then sprinkle over the shells.
• Bake uncovered for 45 minutes (bubbly).