Heirloom Meals- a Tribute to my Mom and Nana - Making Manicotti on Newschannel13 in Albany, NY

Heirloom Manicotti 

When I think of Mother’s Day there is a recipe that comes to mind that has been handed down from my great grandmother to my grandmother to my mother to me.  This is the essence of heirloom meals - savoring yesterday’s traditions today. 

My featured recipe is manicotti  and for all of you who speak phonetically, M-A-N-I-C-O-T-T-I.  When I was little I pronounced it manicotti (pronounced in Italian) and most of my friends had a quizzical look on their faces – So I have gotten into the habit of saying it two times – like Tony Two times form the God Father.  Manicotti (MANICOTTI) – get it!!  I am sure most of you have had manicotti –thinking large tubular noodle stuffed with ricotta (pronounced Italian style) R-I-C-O-T-T-A – there’s Tony Two times again!!

Well my family recipe will transform your idea of manicotti forever!!  This is our recipe for heavenly light crepes - fill them with luscious ricotta filling and finish with some sauce  - the best!!

Manicotti Crepe Recipe:

This recipe makes 80 crepes but can easily be halved or quartered.  This dish is such a family favorite we usually make all 80 and freeze some for another time.

12 large eggs

4 cups of flour

4 cups of water

8 Tablespoons of melted butter (cooled)

Beat eggs, flour and water until smooth, then add the melted butter.  Cover batter and refrigerate overnight.

I happen to be lucky enough to have my grandmother’s well-seasoned caste iron crepe pan, but a non stick crepe pan will do as well.  Using a well-seasoned crepe pan or non-stick 5-6" frying pan, heat on low-medium flame, brush pan with canola oil or melted butter. (I usually do a tester before I really get started to make sure pan it hot enough etc.)  Then ladle the batter into the pan and swirl it so it spreads into the entire surface.  Cook until the edges start browning and top seems dry.  I use a fork but a spatula would do the trick as well to loosen the edges.  Then flip the crepe and let it cook for a few seconds. (I find this is a feel sort-of-thing - you just can tell when it's ready!!) You can make these up to three days ahead.

Ricotta Filling

6 lbs Ricotta

4 eggs

2 lbs mozzarella, cubed

Romano cheese, salt, pepper and parsley to taste

Milk (to adjust the consistency)

Mix all ingredients except milk.  We want it to be thick, not runny.

Assembly

And now the assembly…oops….what about the sauce???  Truly you can use any sauce – your own, a jar of Rao’s Homemade.  We are biased, we use our own.  Our secret for this particular dish are making tiny meatballs!!  Our sauce and meatball recipe will have to be another show.

Take a crepe and spread ricotta mixture in center, fold one edge over the other and place in baking dish that has some sauce spread lightly over bottom. Repeat.  We recommend only one layer as it is easier to serve.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes. And remember they must settle for at least ten minutes before serving or you will have a runny mess - still delicious but not pretty!!

Enjoy!!