Stuffed Manicotti

My family loves pasta. They would eat pasta every night if I would cook pasta every night. My 10 year old especially loves spaghetti. So, there are many times when we want to have pasta but we want more than spaghetti. Tonight, I made stuffed manicotti that my family gobbled down... and I even squeezed some vegetables into the mix that my kids, when they heard, thought were the best ever! Everyone knows about spinach stuffed manicotti but these were terrific and there was no spinach (I am out of spinach at the moment).

Stuffed Manicotti

1 package manicotti noodles (about 14 manicotti noodles)
1 can/jar spaghetti sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 package (15 oz) ricotta cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 cup finely chopped broccoli (food processor)
1 cup finely chopped carrots (food processor)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13x9 casserole dish with non stick cooking spray. Set aside.

Cook the manicotti noodles according to the package directions (mine say 8-9 minutes, I usually only cook them for about 7 minutes because they will soften a little more in the oven while baking). When finished, carefully drain the noodles and cover with cold water (to stop the cooking process and so you can handle them).

While the noodles are cooling in the cold water, in a large bowl combine 1 and 1/2 cups of the mozzarella cheese, the ricotta cheese, the parmesan cheese, the broccoli and the carrots. Mix well.

Pour about 1/2 cup of the spaghetti sauce into the prepared baking dish. Keep the baking dish close for the manicotti.

Carefully (so as not to break the noodles while you are stuffing them)stuff the manicotti noodles with the cheese mixture and place in the baking dish.

Pour the rest of the spaghetti sauce over the top of the noodles. Then sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the top.

Cover the baking dish with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 5 minutes.

Once finished baking, allow the noodles to cool on the counter for 5 minutes before serving.

Makes about 5 servings.

Prep time (including time to boil the noodles): 20 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes

My family loved these. I am actually glad that we didn't have any spinach in the freezer because these turned out even better. And my 10 year old eve said, "I like broccoli! When it's covered in cheese and tomato sauce and noodles." Hey, it's a step in the right direction! LOL