This is a favorite for both my husband and the kiddos, it’s pretty easy and awesome for leftovers.

What you will need:

1 box of Manicotti Shells {I like Barilla} cooked al dente

1 each of Red and Yellow peppers seeded and finely chopped

1 can of white crab meat {feel free to use the real stuff!}

1 egg

1 12 oz container of Ricotta Cheese

2/3 cup Parmesan or Formaggio Cheese

1/3 cup Parmesan for topping

1/4 cup Blue Cheese

Dash of salt and pepper

Sauce:

4 tbsp butter

4 tbsp flour

4 cups milk

3/4 cup Parmesan or Formaggio Cheese

1 tsp Seasoning Salt (Lawry’s)

1 tsp Pepper

Heat your oven to 350 and grease a 9×11 baking dish. While your pasta boils for roughly 7 minutes (until al dente), start mixing your filling. Combine the Ricotta, peppers, crab meat, and cheeses, then beat your egg and add that too. Add the dash of each salt and pepper and you’ll be ready to fill your manicotti shells. Fill each shell and arrange in the 9×11 baking dish. Set aside.

To start the sauce we’re going to make a rue with butter and flour. Once that melts together smoothly over low to med, stir in your milk slowly over medium heat. Bring to a slow boil over med to high and once your sauce starts to thicken reduce to low. Add in cheese, salt and pepper and remove from heat.

{I tossed in a little Sharp Cheddar that I had left over as well}

Drizzle the sauce over the Manicotti and sprinkle the Parmesan over the top. Cover with aluminum foil for 30 minutes, remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes without foil. Remove and let cool for 10 minutes.

Unfortunately I was not able to capture images of the finished project as we were serving company on this particular evening. I will tell you that it is always a major hit and another plus is that it passes as vegetarian {so long as you’re not vegan!}. Enjoy!