Freeze Ahead Manicotti Recipes

Steps:

• Boil manicotti according to package directions, adding oil to water so they won't stick (actually we have had a discussion about this and I'm not sure that works, but I do it anyway!) Meanwhile, mix ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, parsley, and eggs.
• Drain manicotti; run cold water over it.
• Stuff each manicotti with cheese mixture.
• Place them in a 3 qt casserole after treating the dish with nonstick spray, and pour sauce around the manicotti.
• Cover dish with foil and freeze.
• When frozen you can pop it out of the container and put in a freezer bag if desired.
• To prepare for serving, thaw and preheat oven to 350F.
• Cover and bake for 45 minutes.
• Uncover and bake for 15 minutes more.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• If using fresh spinach, 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. Boil the spinach until tender, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, (keep the water in the pot boiling), 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. Set aside.
• In the same large pot of boiling water, cook the manicotti shells according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and pat dry.
• Spread 1 cup of the marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Lightly beat the eggs in a medium bowl. Add the spinach, ricotta, mozzarella, and 1/3 cup of the grated cheese and mix until evenly combined. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, the nutmeg and pepper. Spoon the cheese mixture into the manicotti shells and line them up in the baking dish. Cover with the remaining 2 cups sauce. Scatter the remaining 2/3 cup grated cheese on top and dot with the butter.
• Bake for 30 minutes. Serve immediately.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and the herb sprigs and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 10 minutes.
• Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in 2 teaspoons salt and season with pepper to taste. Use right away, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
• Yield: 3 1/2 cups
• Copyright 2001 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved.

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together ricotta cheese and eggs until blended. Stir in spinach, mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese, sugar, salt and pepper. Stuff mixture into uncooked pasta shells.
• Spread 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a medium baking dish. Arrange stuffed pasta shells in a single layer over the sauce. Pour the remainder of the sauce over the shells, cover dish, and chill in the refrigerator for 8 hours, or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Bake covered for 40 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese, and bake for another 15 minutes.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix ricotta, spinach, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, egg, parsley and seasonings. In another large bowl, mix spaghetti sauce and water; spread 1 cup into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish., Fill uncooked manicotti shells with ricotta mixture; arrange over sauce. Pour remaining spaghetti sauce mixture over top. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Refrigerate, covered, overnight., Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake, uncovered, 40-50 minutes or until manicotti is tender. Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked casserole. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake casserole as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165°.

Steps:

• Spread about 1/3 of the spaghetti sauce in ungreased rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches.
• Sprinkle garlic salt on chicken.
• Insert chicken into uncooked manicotti shells, stuffing from each end of shell to fill if necessary.
• Place shells on spaghetti sauce in dish.
• Pour remaining spaghetti sauce evenly over shells, covering completely.
• Sprinkle with olives and cheese. STOP HERE.
• TO STORE IN REFRIGERATOR: Cover unbaked manicotti tightly with aluminum foil.
• and refrigerate no longer than 24 hours.
• TO STORE IN FREEZER: Wrap unbaked manicotti tightly with aluminum foil and label.
• Freeze no longer than 1 month.
• TO COOK FROM REFRIGERATOR: About 1 hour before serving, heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Bake in covered baking dish about 1 hour, or until shells are tender.
• TO COOK FROM FREEZER: About 1 1/2 hours before serving, heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Bake in covered baking dish about 1 1/2 hours or until shells are tender.

Steps:

• Combine first 4 ingredients in a saucepan; cook over medium-high heat 30 minutes or until thickened and reduced to 2 cups; set aside.
• Cook manicotti according to package directions; drain and set aside.
• Heat butter in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat; add onion and next 5 ingredients.
• Cook, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or until tender.
• Add shrimp and crabmeat, and cook, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or until shrimp turn pink.
• Cool 10 minutes, and drain well.
• Combine seafood mixture and whipping cream mixture.
• Fill manicotti shells, and place in 2 lightly greased 11x7 inch baking dishes.
• Sprinkle with cheeses, and cover with foil.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
• Uncover and bake 10 additional minutes.
• Serve immediately.

Steps:

• n a large bowl, mix ricotta, spinach, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, egg, parsley and seasonings. In a large bowl, mix spaghetti sauce and water; spread 1 cup into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish.
• Fill uncooked manicotti shells with ricotta mixture; arrange over sauce. Pour remaining spaghetti sauce mixture over top. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Refrigerate, covered, overnight.
• Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake, uncovered, 40-50 minutes or until manicotti is tender.
• Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked casserole. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake casserole as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165°.