DBub's Cafe Manicotti

By Addie

I do not make fancy manicotti; my kids won't eat it. I have tried several delicious recipes, but none compares to this one. Who knew cream cheese could be a secret weapon for getting my kids to clear their plates and beg for more. So for all your fancy shamcy manicotti recipes I say I will not make another. No not one. I will stick with this tried and true reicpe that I have been making and loving for years.
Every time I make this for people, they want to know how we made it velvety smooth on the inside and yet meaty enough for their husbands to enjoy. It's all about the cream cheese.

Ingredients

• Filling:
• 1 lb hamburger
• 1/2 of a package of manicotti noodles
• 1/4-1/2 cup cheese
• 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• Minced onion (enough to lightly coat the softened cream cheese still in block form)
• 1/4 cup Cheddar cheese
• Spaghetti Sauce of your choice (homemade or store bought)

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cook hamburger with some onion and black pepper and drain. Meanwhile, cook manicotti noodles according to package directions. Drain and cut lengthwise with a fork.


In a casserole dish add enough spaghetti sauce on bottom to lightly cover. Combine filling ingredients and place a spoonful in each manicotti tube. Place in casserole dish.

Combine remaining sauce with cooked hamburger and put over manicotti noodles. Top with cheese to desired amount. Cook for 20-30 minutes until sauce is bubbly and cheese is NOTE: I usually make this with...CHEDDAR CHEESE. I know, not your typical manicotti, but I got this recipe when I wasn't great at cooking and used what I had on hand. Turned out to be delicious. Wouldn't serve it any. other. way.

NOTE: The trick to filling the manicotti noodles is to take 1 side of the noodle and put it between two prongs of the fork and slice the noodle in half (this is also an indication that the noodles are done cooking in the boiling water). Fill the noodle with filling and roll up, placing seem side down. Works everytime and it doesn't take away from its look. Hopefully that is a clear explanation.