Work smart, not harder.
That’s just how she is.
Our grandmothers simple and foolproof trick makes it easy to prepare this classic Italian meal.
Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Ciara Kehoe
Then, cover the bottom of the baking dish with sauce.
This is where Granda Rose’s trick comes into play.
Forget the pastry or piping bag; you only need kitchen shears and a spoon.
Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Use shears to cut each manicotti lengthwise, opening up the tube into one flat sheet of pasta.
(You aren’t reading that wrong!
She cuts the pastaon purpose.)
Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Then, spoon two to three tablespoons of the ricotta mixture along the center of the flattened manicotti.
Gently roll the manicotti back into a tubular shape, and place it seam-side down in the baking dish.
This will prevent the pasta from opening up as it bakes.
If the ends don’t meet, you’ve overstuffed them, so simply take out some ricotta.
Repeat until your baking dish is full, top with sauce and mozzarella, and bake until bubbly.
