Italian Manicotti with Meat Sauce

 Italian Manicotti  with Meat Sauce is rich and cheesy, you can make it without the Meat or use Italian Sausage if you like. This is so good you need to make it

Please be sure to follow Me

https://cherylstastyhomecooking.blogspot.com/

My tiktok.com/@witchymoonwoman

My Youtube Witchy Woman Cheryl

My Instagram Follow me https://www.instagram.com/craftywitchywoman13

Follow me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CherylsCookingandCraftingatHome

My Crafty Blog https://cherylscreationsblog.blogspot.com/

Please be sure to follow Me Thanks

6 servings

What you Need:

1 pound fresh spinach, stems trimmed and well washed or a 10-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed
Kosher salt, plus 1/2 teaspoon
12-14 manicotti shells(depends on brand)
3 cups meat marinara sauce, recipe follows
1  cups ricotta cheese (about 1 pound)

1/2 cup cottage cheese
1-2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (we like it thicker so we use more of this cheese)
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese or a mixture of half Pecorino and Parmesan
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
Freshly ground pepper

Directions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, and season generously with salt. Fill a medium bowl with ice water and season with salt, as well. Boil the spinach, uncovered, until tender, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, (do not drain), and immediately plunge the spinach into the ice water. Drain and squeeze the excess water from the spinach, and finely chop. Alternatively, if using thawed spinach, simply squeeze, and finely chop.

In the same large pot of boiling water, cook the pasta shells until al dente, tender but still slightly firm. Drain and pat dry. (I cook the pasta about 7 minutes so it's firm to stuff)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Cover the bottom of a 9- x 13-inch ovenproof baking dish with 1 cup of the marinara sauce. In a medium mixing bowl, evenly combine the ricotta, mozzarella, and 1/3 cup of the Parmesan, the eggs, and the spinach. Season with the 1/2 teaspoon salt, nutmeg, and pepper to taste. Spoon the cheese mixture into the manicotti shell and line them up in the baking dish. Cover with the remaining sauce. Scatter the remaining cheese on top and dot with the butter. Bake for 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

Meat Marinara Sauce

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 medium onion, diced (about 3 tablespoons)
3 cloves garlic, chopped
3 1/2 cups whole, peeled, canned tomatoes in puree, (one 28-ounce can), roughly chopped
Sprig of fresh thyme
Sprig of fresh basil
2 teaspoons kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute the onion and garlic, stirring, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and the herb sprigs and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.

Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in the salt and season with pepper to taste. Use now, or store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.

Steps to make it:

chop your veggies up, 

I have frozen spinach to add(optional

The cheeses

How to mix your cheese

put cheese into a baggie, cut the corner off to fill shells

Creamy Rotini

 

Delicious pasta and meat made with two types of sauce, a white sauce and a meat sauce with ground beef and Italian sausage, lots of cheese and rotini pasta.

Please be sure to follow Me

https://cherylstastyhomecooking.blogspot.com/

My tiktok.com/@witchcelesteluna

My Youtube Witchy Woman Cheryl

My Instagram Follow me https://www.instagram.com/mscheriluv/

Follow me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CherylsCookingandCraftingatHome

Please be sure to follow Me Thanks

 

8 Servings

CALORIES

1074 kcal

INGREDIENTS

 

For the Meat Sauce

1 pound ground beef

1 pound ground Italian sausage

1 onion, diced

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon slap ya mama

1 teaspoon black pepper

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

(2) 15 ounce cans tomato sauce

12 ounce can tomato paste

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon basil

For the Creamy White Sauce

½ cup butter

1 tablespoon flour

16 ounce heavy cream

6 ounce shredded Parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper, to taste

½ cup pasta water

16 ounce box Rotini pasta(any pasta will work)

2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

How to Make it:

Preheat oven to 350° and spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook pasta per package directions for al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain pasta and set aside.

In a large skillet or frying pan, over medium high heat, cook ground beef, Italian sausage and onions until meat is not longer pink and onions are tender. Drain and return to pan.

Sprinkle with seasonings, stir.

Pour tomato sauce and tomato paste into the meat mixture. Stir to combine, cover and let simmer, stirring occasionally.

In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt butter and then stir in flour.

Pour heavy whipping cream and stir until combine.

Add Parmesan cheese, stir until melted and add salt and pepper.

Add pasta water to cheese sauce, stir.

Add cooked pasta to cheese sauce, stir to combine.

Pour pasta and cheese sauce into prepared baking dish followed by ground beef mixture on top.

Sprinkle with shredded cheese and bake uncovered for 20 minutes or until the cheese is hot and bubbly.

Serve with a side salad and garlic bread.

 

Calories: 1074kcal

Pizza Meatloaf

Everyday Meatloaf full of chunks of Mozzarella cheese, Italian Sauce and Seasonings, Yum!

Please be sure to follow Me

https://cherylstastyhomecooking.blogspot.com/

My Tiktok @craftykitchenwitch13

My Youtube Witchy Woman Cheryl

My Instagram Follow me https://www.instagram.com/mscheriluv/

Follow me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CherylsCookingandCraftingatHome

Please be sure to follow Me Thanks

What you need:

1 egg, beaten

1/2 onion diced, 3-4 garlic cloves minced

1/2 cup pizza sauce(Tomato sauce with Italian Seasoning works)

1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 1/2 lbs ground beef

1 1/2 cups part-skim mozzarella cheese block cut into small chunks

additional pizza sauce (optional)

You need a bread pan or something that size, spray lightly with some Olive oil spray

Heat oven to 375 degrees

How to make it:

In a bowl, combine the egg, pizza sauce, onions, garlic, bread crumbs & Italian seasoning.

Fold beef into mixture and mix well

Put half of the mixture into loaf pan spread smoothly in bottom,  fill center with cheese chunks

pressed slightly into meat mixture, top with the rest of the mixture smooth evenly in pan. I put a few

more chunks on top. The last 10 minutes I top with the rest of the sauce and continue baking.

Bake at 375°F for 30-40 minutes or until meat is no longer pink.

Serve immediately with additional pizza sauce and cheese if desired.

Cheesy Garlic Italian Bread

 

This cheesy Italian Bread is quick and easy to make, tastes so good you won't want to order it out again.

Please be sure to follow my blog

https://cherylstastyhomecooking.blogspot.com/

My Instagram Follow me

https://www.instagram.com/mscheriluv/

Follow me on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/CherylsCookingandCraftingatHome

Please be sure to follow my blog

What you need:

1 loaf Italian or French breach any kind you like
1-2 cups shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1/2-1 cup grated Parmesans Cheese
1/2-1 stick of butter(melted)
1-2 tsp garlic powder and onion powder
dash of pepper

How to make it

Heat oven to 350 degrees or use an Air Fryer Oven

\Take your bread and slice it in 1" slices(I used half a loaf tonight so use the lesser amounts) You can do the whole loaf if you have enough to feed. I wrap the rest of the loaf and freeze for another time.

Melt the butter just for 15 seconds in microwave or take out butter earlier in day to soften. Then when ready to use add the spices and stir in butter. Spread slices with the melted butter mixture. Lay out each slice on a cookie sheet, I line mine with foil to save cleanup. Then add shredded Mozzarella and Parm cheese to each slice. Bake in over for about 10 minutes till golden, air fry for 5-9 minutes depending on your air fryer.

Serve warm

Green Salad with Tomatoes, Mozzarella, Basil and a Creamy Vinaigrette Dressing

  

Fresh leafy green salad tossed with tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and a creamy vinaigrette dressing is a good side with any dish or for lunch it's the best.

8 to 10 servings

Ingredients
Dressing:
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons Red Wine vinegar
1 tablespoon minced shallots (green onions)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Salad:
3 ounces mixed field greens or spinach
1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
8 .5 ounces small mozzarella balls

1 small red onion diced small if you like
3 tablespoons almonds or pine nuts, toasted or sunflower seeds
15 fresh basil leaves, sliced

Directions

For the dressing: In a jar with a lid, combine the oil,  vinegar, shallots, mustard, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Tightly close the lid and shake so the dressing is well combined.

For the salad: Put the mixed greens and romaine in a large bowl. Add enough dressing so that each leaf is lightly coated when tossed. Sprinkle with additional salt and pepper. Transfer the lettuce to a serving platter or bowl.

Toss the tomatoes and mozzarella balls over the salad along with the nuts and finally the basil leaves. Serve immediately.