Easy Cheesy Manicotti

I don't typically use the words Manicotti and Easy in the same sentence. Let's face it stuffing those dern tubes is a messy nuisance, and I just prefer NOT to do it!

Lucky for me, I am friends with the right people!! Smart ones!! My good friend Renee, of Renee's Kitchen Adventures is a genius! She discovered an easy way to make delicious cheesy Manicotti, and I am forever in her debt! Thank you, Renee!!

If you are a Manicotti lover like I, you need to check out her secret technique for dealing with those frustrating tubes! I made her Three Cheese Zucchini Manicotti last night, and I will always and forever make Manicotti this way from here on out!!

Not only is Renee's recipe easy, it is delicious too! The combination of flavors is better than anything you will get in a restaurant. It is fresh and bursting with deliciousness!! Try it! You'll like it! I promise!!

I followed Renee's recipe, but I used a bunch of fresh baby spinach instead of the zucchini. I had the spinach on hand and needed to use it up, so I chopped it up and tossed it in! I also added some basil to the filling because, once again, I had some and didn't want to waste it. Plus, I LOVE basil!  

This is what it looked like before going in the oven. I tossed some basil on top just to give color to the photo, but again, I LOVE basil, so no harm done! 

I used my favorite red sauce recipe which cooks up deliciously in a slow cooker and makes a bunch! Don has been craving some spaghetti and meatballs, so I made a batch of the red sauce and then needed some ideas of how to use it up (other than having spaghetti and meatballs every day for a week!). Renee's Manicotti recipe was perfect for using up the leftover sauce, and once I saw how easy her recipe is to make, I knew I had to try it!! It looks good doesn't it? It is! You know I'm right <grin>

I can also highly recommend Renee's Turkey and Zucchini Enchiladas - yummmm

Happy eating ~Marion