Freeze Ahead Manicotti Food

FREEZE AHEAD MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Boil manicotti according to package directions, adding oil to water so they won't stick (actually we have had a discussion about this and I'm not sure that works, but I do it anyway!) Meanwhile, mix ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, parsley, and eggs.
• Drain manicotti; run cold water over it.
• Stuff each manicotti with cheese mixture.
• Place them in a 3 qt casserole after treating the dish with nonstick spray, and pour sauce around the manicotti.
• Cover dish with foil and freeze.
• When frozen you can pop it out of the container and put in a freezer bag if desired.
• To prepare for serving, thaw and preheat oven to 350F.
• Cover and bake for 45 minutes.
• Uncover and bake for 15 minutes more.

MAKE-AHEAD MANICOTTI

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together ricotta cheese and eggs until blended. Stir in spinach, mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese, sugar, salt and pepper. Stuff mixture into uncooked pasta shells.
• Spread 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a medium baking dish. Arrange stuffed pasta shells in a single layer over the sauce. Pour the remainder of the sauce over the shells, cover dish, and chill in the refrigerator for 8 hours, or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Bake covered for 40 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese, and bake for another 15 minutes.