Meat-stuffed Manicotti Shells

[invisionary]

Meat-stuffed Manicotti a la invisionary

This was the experiment at a dinner party last night and it came out omnomnom. So I thought I'd share it with everyone. This is a more complex recipe than many and has lots of room for creative chefs to tinker. This is basically an outline with all sorts of suggestions for how to get the results you want.

This recipe will feed approximately four to six people and takes about one hour total to prepare.


You will need for the meat:
1 lb ground meat (I prefer 95/5 or leaner ground beef)
Olive or vegetable oil
2 tbsp ground parsley
2 tbsp ground oregano
1/2 cup diced onion (fine)
Salt and pepper to taste

For everything else:
1 box manacotti shells
1 lb ricotta cheese
1/2 lb mozzarella cheese
Romano/parmesan cheese to taste
1 jar pasta sauce (vodka sauce is omnomnom!)


Boil water for the shells and preheat oven to 350 F. Combine ingredients for the meat and saute until lightly browned. Follow cooking instructions for the manicotti shells, leaning towards shorter cooking times (so the shells don't fall apart in the water). Thoroughly combine the meat, ricotta cheese, and 1 cup pasta sauce. To stuff the shells use a teaspoon, stand the shell up on its end, and carefully stuff with the meat. Place the manicotti in a baking pan and top with sauce, mozzarella, and romano. If you are stacking multiple layers be sure to cover each later with the topping, but I suggest no more than two layers in a given pan. Bake for 20 minutes and omnomnom!

This recipe will comfortably serve four large appetites or six more normal sized ones. Add your favorite Italian side dishes (bread especially) and a good Riesling and you're all set!

Comments

[distractionary]

Dammit, now I'm hungry and it's going to be hours still!