Mmm Mmm Manicotti

{picture from Pillsbury.com}

"Dear Pillsbury Everyday Family Suppers Cook Book... will you be my BFF? :) Thank you for your Saucy Manicotti recipe that I will now share with the blog-o-sphere!

Thanks - A Smiling Momma"

Saucy Manicotti

8 uncooked manicotti

Filling:

1/2lb. bulk mild italian sausage

1/2c. chopped onion

40z. can mushroom pieces (omitted....ew!)

1 1/2c. fine chopped cooked turkey or chicken (we used leftover turkey breast - in the food processor)

2 egg yolks (save your whites for my breakfast idea below)

9oz. frozen spinach, thawed and drained (I used pureed broccoli instead... it was on hand)

4oz. shredded Mozzarella

1/2c. grated parm (I used romano - it's richer)

14oz. spaghetti sauce

White Sauce:

2T. marg. or butter melted

2T. flour (I use whole wheat)

1 1/2c. whipping cream

1/3c. grated parm

dash garlic powder

dash nutmeg

1) Cook manicotti to desired doneness. Drain; place in cold water.

2) Meanwhile, heat oven to 350. In large skillet brown sausage, onions and mushrooms. Remove from skillet and drain on napkins/paper towels. In large bowl (I used my Kitchenaid mixer) combine sausage mix, turkey or chicken, yolks, spinach, mozzarella and 1/2c. parm; mix well.

3) Drain manicotti; fill each with sausage mixture. Pour 1/2 the spaghetti sauce into ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish. Place filled manicotti side by side over sauce in dish.
4) Melt margarine in medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour; cook until smooth and bubbly, stirring constantly. Gradually stir in whipping cream; cook until slightly thickened, stirring constantly. Stir in 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, garlic powder and nutmeg; blend well. Pour white sauce over manicotti in baking dish. Spoon remaining spaghetti sauce over top.
5) Bake at 350°F. for 35 to 40 minutes or until bubbly.

Ok, so the picture above is NOT this manicotti...but close. I forgot to take a pic and nothing online looked closer. Pillsbury offers a million manicotti recipes...this one TAKES THE CAKE!! It was delicious in every way and used up some things I already had on hand that needed used up.

-leftover turkey breast shredded up

-bag of broccoli puree

The White sauce {gasp} is heavenly...creamy, rich, and the nutmeg with the garlic powder is just... oh man, good. :) And remember those two egg whites you have leftover? Save them... if your dish turns out like mine you will have about 1/2c. of the sausage mix leftover that didn't fit into your shells. The next day combine your whites and the sausage mix for a SCRUMPTIOUS omlet at the breakfast hour! I am all about getting as many meals out of ingredients as I can :)

I omitted the mushrooms because we dispise them - and added in some broccoli puree which I think made it even better (and Ava had not one clue it was in there!). Add the "nutty" flavor of the whole wheat flour... yum! Enjoy the break away from traditional red-sauce-only manicotti!