Spinach Manicotti

Pasta...Oh Pasta, how I love thee. Yes, Tanner and I both love Pasta, probably a little too much. But when I make it, I try to find recipes that are healthy. I have had this cookbook for quite a while and it is called 365 Easy Pasta Recipes by Cookbook Resources. I chose Spinach Manicotti for this recipe.

Spinach Manicotti

Ingredients 
1- 8 oz package manicotti
1- 10 oz package of frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained
1- lb lean ground beef
1 t dried onion flakes
1 c shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 c pesto
1 egg
1 jar tomato pasta sauce

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees

2. Cook manicotti according to packing directions; drain and rinse with cold water. Pleace manicotti on large piece of wax paper to cool

3. Combine spinach, groud beef, ionino flakes, cheese, pesto, egg and a little salt and pepper in bowl.

4. Fill each manicotti by carefully studd beef-spinach mixture into each manicotti. Place manicotti on sprayed 9x13 in glass baking dish. Pour pasta sauce over manicotti.

5. Cover and bake for 35-40 minutes or until filling is no longer pink in center.

Serves 8

Tip: Squeeze spinach between paper towels to completely remove excess moisture.

Review: WOW!!!! This recipe was absolutely delicious! It far exceeded my expectations. But I mean how can you go wrong with pasta, spinach, beef, pesto, tomato sauce, and cheese- they are the prefect ingredients!  The pesto in the meat mixture really gives this dish a unique taste. Also, I used fresh spinach and cooked it down until wilted instead of using frozen; I like using fresh of any ingredient if possible because I think it makes the taste even better. Tanner loved this dish as well, so this is one that I will be going in my make again book.

Until Next Time,

Shannon