Stuffed Manicotti

Are you in need of an idea of a recipe that you can make ahead of time and then put in your freezer to have to pull out when needed? Try stuffed manicotti. They are supper easy to make, they freeze well and are really easy to prepare from your freezer. Plus because the shells are sold in large packages, if you have a smaller family like mine you can get a couple of meals out of one box.
Here is a quick recipe:

Stuffed Manicotti

1 package manicotti shells

4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese-divided

2 cups ricotta cheese (or if you can't find it small curd cottage cheese works)

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese-divided

1 tbsp minced garlic (or a bit of garlic pwd if you don't have minced garlic)

1 egg

2 tbsp dried basil (parsley works nice too)

2 jars pasta sauce (this is only if you are going to eat the whole amount in one meal. 1 jar of sauce is plenty for half the noodles)

Boil noodles according to package directions but don't over cook. In fact undercook them because they will cook more in the oven when you bake them and they will be easier to handle if they are a bit firm. Also when they have completed boiling drain the water and run them under cold water to make them easier to handle when you stuff them. Mix cheeses in a large bowl along with garlic, egg, and basil. Stuff each shell with mixture. If you are going to have them to eat right away then pour part of your sauce in the bottom of your pan. Put your stuffed manicotti's on top of the sauce. Pour more sauce over top and top with the remaining cheeses. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

If you want to freeze some of these to use later then do this: stuff them and put them back in the little plastic tray they came in like this (see picture)

put them in your freezer to get firm over night and then bag them up the next day. I had never thought of using the little tray before but it worked awesome when I tried it this last time. To serve them then you will want to bring them out of your freezer ahead of time and let them thaw, then prepare them the same way you would if you were making them fresh. I would bake them slightly longer to make sure they are cooked thoroughly though.

Serve these with Chicken Parmesan and you will be super mom (or wife) for the night!!!