December 2010--Spinach Manicotti

I was making this delicious dish way before I was a vegetarian.  You'll want to eat the sauce by itself... It is adapted from the classic Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook.

Ingredients:

8 dried manicotti shells
1/4 cup sliced green onions (about 2)
1 clove of garlic, minced
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/3 cups milk
2 ounces Swiss cheese, torn
1/3 cup vegetable broth
1 beaten egg
10 oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained (I personally use about 3/4 of the package--I think the whole package is too much)
3/4 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Cook manicotti according to package directions.  Cool manicotti on a piece of foil sprayed with cooking oil.

Meanwhile, for the sauce, cook green onions and garlic in butter until tender.  Stir in flour.  Add milk all at once.  Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.  Add Swiss cheese and broth, stirring until cheese melts.

For filling, stir together egg, spinach, ricotta cheese, and Parmesan cheese.  Fill manicotti shells and place in a 2 quart baking dish.  Pour sauce over the shells.

Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until heated through. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.