This recipe was inspired by Vivian Grace for our family night.  We developed our own recipe by utilizing several recipes on the internet. Our mealtime has become a way to reconnect as a family and enjoy fellowship around the table. Making spaghetti is one of the easiest meals to make, and we found this recipe to not only be easy, but a delicacy!  Wait until you see the unveiling video.

 

Ingredients

Two pounds of cannelloni or rigatoni, or adjust to your needs

Your favorite spaghetti sauce (1 jar)

1 pound of ground beef, browned

1 onion

1/2 cup ricotta cheese or more (we ended up with a cup of ricotta due to pan size)

Grated Parmesan and slices of fresh Mozzarella to taste

1 egg

1/2 tsp of lemon zest

Garlic to taste

You can add your favorite Italian spices to make it your favorite, we used an Italian blend

Directions

Boil the pasta for five minutes or so, you don’t want the pasta fully cooked

Set aside pasta in a bowl and toss with a little grated Parmesan and Italian spices

Chop the onion and cook until soft, add garlic and spices to taste

Add ground beef to the onion mixture and brown, drain fat

Add your favorite spaghetti sauce, or you can make your own family recipe

In a separate bowl mix together ricotta, egg, and lemon zest

Grease a spring form pan

Put a layer of the sauce in the bottom of the pan (save some for  the top)

Arrange the noodles in the pan standing up

Pack them in the pan tight

Spread the ricotta mixture on top and try to gently push some of the mixture inside the noodles

You can tap the pan on the counter top and get gravity to help you

When you are done with the ricotta, then use the remaining sauce for the top (remember to tap it down and push the meat sauce into the noodles)

Coat the top with Parmesan cheese

Place slices of the mozzarella cheese on the top

Cover with tented foil and place in a preheated oven of 400 degrees

Cook for 30 minutes

Remove foil for the last 10-15 minutes

The best part of making this dish is the unveiling!  See the video below:

We added a caprese salad along with bruschetta  and olive oil/Italian spiced toast

We had six for dinner, and we had leftovers

Meal time has become a way for our family to try new recipes, join together in love and fellowship, and watch Adelaide grow…