SPINACH PESTO MANICOTTI RECIPE

Yes, I finally got around to getting this ready! I'm sorry it took me so long. This dish is made the night before, and the cheese is stuffed into the uncooked shells, which makes this way easy to prepare!

1 (15oz) Ricotta Cheese

1 (10oz) Frozen Spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

4 Tbl Pesto

2 C Shredded Mozzarella Cheese - divided

3/4 C Shredded Parmesan Cheese - divided

Garlic Salt to taste

Pepper to taste

2 (28oz) Jars of Spaghetti Sauce

1 (8oz) Pkg of Manicotti Shells

1. In large bowl combine Ricotta, Spinach, Pesto, 1 C of Mozzarella, 1/4 C of Parmesan, Garlic Salt and Pepper. Spread some of the spaghetti sauce, enough to coat the bottom of a ungreased 13x9 baking dish.

2. Stuff uncooked shells with the cheese mixture. After the shell is filled, place it in the pan with the spaghetti sauce. After all shells are in the pan, cover with the rest of the spaghetti sauce. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Cover and refrigerate overnight!

3. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 40-50 minutes.

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When I cook, I don't always follow recipes to a "T", so if you don't like the pesto, don't add it or if you like more, then by all means, add more! The original recipe called for water to be added to the spaghetti sauce, I however, think it cooks just fine without it. If you think it looks to "dry" to you, I would suggest adding more spaghetti sauce instead of water. I believe the water was to help hydrate the shells, but like I said, it really does cook up just fine. Also, the overnight step is needed to help hydrate the noodles. If you must cook it the same day, then I would definitely lower the oven temp a little bit and cook longer, and add either more water or spaghetti sauce to the recipe. One last tip, last time I made this, I had a little of the ricotta cheese mixture leftover, rather than throw it away, I just mixed it with the remaining spaghetti sauce before pouring it over the top of the prepared manicotti shells.

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask me in the comments section and I will answer them :)

ENJOY!