Italian Manicotti Crepes Recipe

Italian Manicotti with Crepes Recipe

10 ounces frozen chopped spinach
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons butter
1 pound ground beef
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
12 cooked crepes
8 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated
2 cups tomato sauce (optional)

Sauce:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
2 1/2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Cook the spinach according to the directions on the package. Drain well.

In a large skillet, sauté the onion and garlic in butter until golden brown. Add the beef and brown, stirring frequently. Remove the skillet from the heat and pour off any excess grease. Stir in the spinach, salt, pepper and parmesan cheese.

Fill the crepes with the meat mixture and roll the crepes up loosely. Place the crepes in a large, shallow baking dish. Top the crepes with the mozzarella cheese.

Preheat oven to 350°F.

For the sauce, melt the butter in a saucepan. Blend in the flour and gradually stir in the milk. Cook and stir until the sauce thickens and comes to a boil. Stir in the salt, pepper and cheese. Spoon the sauce over the crepes.

Bake for 20 minutes or until the sauce is bubbly.

Pour hot tomato sauce over the manicotti if desired.

Makes 12 crepes.

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• This recipe calls for crepes instead of pasta. Substitute manicotti pasta tubes if you prefer. Just boil the manicotti pasta, fill the tubes and bake as directed in the recipe.
• The tomato sauce is an option. The recipe tastes delicious with just the cream sauce, but a bit of tomato sauce poured over before serving adds nice flavor too. Try it both ways and see what you prefer.