Winter Winter Pasta Dinner!!

First of all, I would like to thank you all my dear friends for their wishes on the 1st anniversary of my blog., by leaving comments here and emailing me. Didn't have any idea I could have such wonderful friends!

Weather has been pretty dreadful these days. So cold, gray and dark. Every morning, one look outside of the window and the sigh comes out. It's snow everywhere. Can't wait to see and feel the warmth of sun. But until then, we've got to turn to our kitchen to make us something that can warm us up from inside out! Something that could say Spring on the way, hang on! This is one such dish that brings the hopes of Spring and warmth of sunshine right on the dinner plate. My 3-cheese Manicotti….so rich and heavenly with all those oozing, gooey cheeses, fiery red marinara sauce and a touch of color from fresh parsley. Now this is my victory over old man winter! I served this with homemade garlic bread and boy oh boy, our souls were all warmed up with the cozy,homey feeling! This is what comfort food is all about.

3-cheese Manicotti
Ingredients
A box of Manicotti (14 shells), cooked per package directions
1 lb. ricotta cheese
1.5 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 box of frozen spinach, thawed, drained
1 egg
A pinch of nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
About 4 cups of homemade Marinara sauce

How to:

Mix all the cheeses(except 1/2 cup of mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan), egg, spinach, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Place the mixture in the plastic bag as it makes it easier for the filling to slide into the manicotti shells.

Fill up the shells, arrange them on the lightly greased baking dish. Sprinkle with leftover cheeses and bake covered in 400° F oven for about 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for further 10 minutes. Pull out of the oven, let it sit for about 10 more minutes and then sprinkle fresh chopped parsley or whatever herb you would have on hand and serve with hot garlic bread.