The improvising and the ‘trading of this for that’ all began with a grocery order pick-up. ~ Whatever do you do when you want to make Manicotti but the Manicotti Noodles are out of stock? Well you improvise. Our Manicotti became jumbo stuffed shells.
and while I was already improvising, I exchanged the provolone cheese I typically use for shredded Parmesan cheese ~ then added in browned ground beef and chopped spinach leaves.
Even though there were changes and add-in’s, it made for an even tastier recipe ~ Don’t ya just love a recipe to please your tastebuds?!!! Enjoy our ‘improved’ version below.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat Oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13×9 pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- don't forget to make the noodles according to package directions. Set aside.
- Brown ground hamburger
- In a large bowl add browned hamburger, ricotta, spinach, 3 cups of the cheese, 2 large eggs, and seasoning. Mix.
- Spoon mixture into manicotti or jumbo shells.
- Pour 1/2 of sauce into prepared pan and add the manicotti, then top with remaining sauce and then top with remaining cheeses.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Enjoy!
We did begin with a fresh salad and a semi-homemade dressing (recipe below).
This Italian dressing has a surprise ~ a (3 tb) kick of bottled Ranch Dressing, who knew this was an option in Italian dressing?~ so tasty!
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk all ingredients together, and enjoy over mixed greens, cherry tomatos, sliced red onion and shredded cheese!
We then finished our meal with dessert. This dessert, Macaroons, didn’t end up the way I intended but was still just as tasty.
‘You see, I thought I was making my Mom’s Macaroons and followed along with the recipe from the back of the coconut bag (no image shown) and I ended up with something completely different than I thought. Who knew there were so many variations of macaroons.‘
Here is what I thought I was getting, and what I got.
So, I asked Mom, and she said her version only has two ingredients, Sweetened Condensed Milk and Coconut.
“I should have started by asking Mom, Oh Amy.”
The ‘oops’ version was just as tasty and here is the recipe.
Ingredients
Method
- Beat egg whites, vanilla and salt until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar beating until very stiff and glossing peaks form.
- fold in coconut and drop by rounded tablespoons (or larger) onto cookie sheet.
- Bake at 325 (preheat) for 20 minutes.
- cool on wire rack (with parchment paper).
- Let cool and dip into melted chocolate if desired.
- Enjoy!
Leave a Reply