Ricotta and Spinach Cannelloni

Ingrid

Hmmmm, I think we may be Italian..... & while we ponder this, lets enjoy yet another pasta dish.


Ingredients:

Filling
375g spinach
350g ricotta
3 egg yolks
2 cloves garlic (crushed)
1/3 cup grated cheese
nutmeg

Sauce
2 tbls oil
600g canned tomatoes (pureed)
2tsp basil
salt
pepper
3/4 cup grated cheese

Method:

Combine spinach, ricotta, egg yolks, garlic, cheese, nutmeg and salt in a bowl. Mix well. Fill dry Cannelloni tubes with mixture.

In a pan, cook oil, tomatoes, basil, salt, pepper until boiling. Remove from heat.

Pour half sauce in a dish then place a layer of the filled Cannelloni tubes. Pour over the remaining sauce and sprinkle with cheese.

Bake at 200 degrees (celcius) for 30 - 35 minutes.

Serves 5 (I fed 3 adults & 1.25 children)


this dinner was an absolute hit in this household with Olivia asking for more and Xander crying because I wasnt feeding him fast enough. But next time I may add a few veggies to the sauce (zucchini or carrots) just to get some more veggies into the kids without them knowing about it.

Ricotta & Cumin Meatballs

Last year we got hooked on Celebrity Masterchef - who knew that celebrities COULD cook, and well.

Right at the start of the show, I think maybe episode 1, one of the celebrities cooked a meatball dish that looked family friendly and delicious. Her secret ingredient was ricotta, an ingredient that I've not really used before.

I don't know about you, but I find it hard to ensure that my kids get the right daily dose of nutrients from the sometimes limited food that they WILL eat. So when I have the opportunity to "hide" goodness within a dish I seize it.

I knew if I told my kids, and probably my husband, we were having ricotta for dinner they would run a mile, but I knew that if I told them we were having meatballs they would be at the table within a flash.

So I tried it, I secretly added ricotta to my meatballs and they tasted moist and delicious and the kids were none the wiser. Win/Win.

So give them a try and let me know how you go.