Chicken, Mushroom & Spinach Manicotti : A Leftover Favorite

Our son will swear to you that he hates chicken, mushrooms, baby spinach and tomatoes.

In fact, the only food that he likes that is included in this recipe is the pasta. Well, all you nay-sayers who will swear to me that your kids (or hubby in many circumstances) will not eat chicken, mushrooms, baby spinach and tomatoes, give this a try.

Yes, I do respect likes and dislikes but it is often the food’s flavor or texture on its own that someone does not like. Many foods taste differently when combined with others. Give this a try.

Where did I get the idea for this recipe you ask? I was inspired by a recipe in Annabel Karmel’s new book ‘Top 100 Pasta Dishes’. We all know that children and adults alike love pasta so Ms. Karmel set about creating an entire book around that fact.

Most of us have heard of and read Ms. Karmel’s books from the moment our babies were a few months old and this latest will be sure to give you great recipes that will make kiddos and grown-ups alike clamour around the dinner table.

Chicken, Mushroom & Spinach Manicotti 
8 manicotti tubes, cooked al dente
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 large sweet onion, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
4 ounces of baby bella mushrooms, roughly chopped
2 cups cooked chicken, chopped
2 organic tomatoes, chopped
1 cup cheddar (or any easy to melt cheese), shredded and divided in half
3 cups marinara sauce

Directions:
1. Cook the manicotti al dente per ‘box’ instructions. Drain and set aside (don’t stack as will stick together like super glue)

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

3. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic, turn the heat down to medium and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring every minute or so.

4. Add the mushrooms to the pan and cook them for 5 minutes, stirring every minute. Toss in the chicken and tomatoes, turn heat to low and allow to simmer for 5-7 minutes.

5. Pour the filling into a bowl and mix in the baby spinach and 1/2 cup of the cheddar. Set aside.

6. Place 1.5 cups of the marinara sauce into the bottom of a baking dish.

7. To stuff each manicotti ‘tube’, you have two options: 1. use a fork to stuff a bit of the filling in each end OR 2. slice the tube open, place some filling on it, fold it back together and place the seam side down in the dish.

8. Spread the remaining marinara sauce on top of the 8 stuffed manicotti and scatter the remaining cheese on top.

9. Bake for 25 minutes.

How do you approach reintroducing least favorite foods to your family?