Delicious Baked Manicotti

 

So, besides my post yesterday I know it's been awhile since you've seen me post anything on here! It's not because we've taken a hiatus from eating or cooking, it's just that as soon as the weather here in OK started to get more "Spring" like, I can't keep myself inside or sitting still! As someone who has spent her entire life loving the outdoors, I think it's SO important to put down the iPad, tablet, computer or whatever it is that keeps you inside and go outside and take some time to stop and smell the roses! 

 outdoormindedmag.com

We've been fishing, hiking and cooking out with friends and family already this Spring, and there will be much more of all that as the season for outdoor living has just begun! Today is yucky, so I'm taking this downtime to put up a new recipe! I grabbed this recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe, and she has so many good recipes on there it's hard to chose where to start! Let's get started with this one!

Ingredients

Tomato Sauce

 

1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes (in juice)
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 medium cloves garlic, finely minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons dried basil 

Cheese Filling and Pasta:

3 cups part-skim ricotta cheese
4 ounces grated Parmesan cheese

8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
2 large eggs , lightly beaten
3/4 teaspoon table salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves (or 2 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh basil (or 1 teaspoon dried basil)
16 no-boil lasagna noodles

 

Make sure you have a rack in the middle of your oven and pre-heat it to 375 degrees. 

 

In a large saucepan heat the oil, pepper flakes and garlic over medium/high heat! You are wanting this to get fragrant, not so much brown! It should take about a minute or two to get that first wonderful whiff of deliciousness! Now throw in your tomatoes, salt and dried basil and allow to simmer for about 15 minutes or until sauce has thickened (not too thick just slightly). 

 

 

 

In a medium sized bowl stir together the ricotta, mozzarella cheese, 1 cup of the Parmesan cheese (1/2 of what the recipe calls for), eggs, salt, pepper, and herbs! Set this mixture to the side.

 

 

 

Now for the assembly!! n a 9x13 pan, pour about one inch of boiling water into the pan. Add your noodles one at a time, making sure they don't all stick together! Let them soak for about 5 minutes or until you can "roll them" without them breaking! You don't want them to be completely cooked through because then they will break on you! 

 

 

Lay your noodles out on a paper towel or dish towel to dry off and discard the water in the pan. Make sure your pan is dried and clean to start the assembly process. Add just enough of the sauce to cover the bottom of your pan. It should be about 1 1/2 cups of sauce! Take a noodle and spoon about 1/4 c of the cheese mixture on the bottom of the noodle! This took some trial and error for me! I found the easiest way to do this was to spoon the mixture on about an inch from the bottom of the noodle. Spread it out a little with your fingers and start to roll the noodle! You'll have to figure out what works best for you! I made about 3 extra noodles just so I could practice a couple of times without losing any of our food! Place them on top of the sauce in the pan, seam side down! Cover with the remaining sauce and place aluminum foil over the pan. Bake in the oven for about 40 minutes and then remove the foil (CAREFUL: DON'T BURN YOURSELF WITH THE STEAM). Add the remainder of the Parmesan cheese, and bake about 5-7 more minutes or until the cheese is brown and bubbly. Remove from oven and let stand for a few minutes to cool! 

Serve and enjoy!

I'm going to try and start writing the night before so all I have to do before heading out is hit publish and we can be on our way! I love sharing our recipes with ya'll and you've given me such an overwhelming response that I want to make sure to keep it up! I've got to figure out what I'm going to do to make up for the photo challenge this month. Maybe next month I will take 2 pictures a day and go from there!

Until next time...

~Happy Eating~

 

--"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you"-- 

~Frank Lloyd Wright~

 

 

A Trip to the Hollow

I recently had the fun opportunity to go and tour a new outdoor/indoor venue in Broken Arrow, OK! The name "Tranquility Hollow" is a perfect way to describe the 20 acres surrounded by trees, hills, and a lot of love from the owners, Bob and Lola! Limited only by your own dreams and imaginations, this venue is a perfect setting for a wedding, family get together, birthday party, or a day spent with friends! They have different "packages" you can buy, which include a wedding weekend for a small group of overnight guests! If you decide to book a wedding weekend package with them, the entire venue is yours for the weekend so you don't have to worry about any "wedding crashers!" Otherwise, you can choose an activity package based on your wants and needs by the hour, or time of day! Just call ahead to get prices and package options! DJ and I throw around ideas about a venue to get hitched at, and I stumbled across this place (which is much closer than the other locations we were looking at). I came home with pictures and stories and cannot wait to take him out there in the beginning of May for a photography session with our friend Natalie who owns and operates, Hugs and Smiles Photography! I had been e-mailing Lola so much, that when I finally arrived it was as if two friends were meeting up for an afternoon of walking and talking and "catching up"! Her husband Bob, was hard at work on the land and I didn't get a chance to visit with him, but I'm absolutely positive we will get along! I snagged some pictures with my phone while I was out there to bring home to DJ so he could see the place, and Lola has given me permission to share them with you all! You can contact them for rates or questions but here is a small list of fun activities they offer at the Hollow (they offer plenty more than I'm giving you here):

Catch and Release Fishing

Horseshoe Pitching

Swings

20 BEAUTIFUL ACRES

Zip Line

Fire Pits

Swimming

You can choose a weekend package for up to about 8 people! This is one of the beautiful rooms they have put together to make your stay as comfortable as possible! This is also the room that Lola said would be her idea of the groom's room for weddings!

This is one of the beautiful bathrooms downstairs with this stunning bathtub! Doesn't it just make you want to grab some candles and scented bubble bath and relax here?!

Upstairs you'll find the designated "bridal suite" which has it's own bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen! It's almost like giving the bride and her girls their own private apartment with a screened in porch overlooking the land! I think this would make a great "apartment" to relax in the day of our wedding! 

As if all the activities outside are not enough for you, if you need to wind down and relax why not choose to do so in their own movie room! They have lots of movies for you to choose from, or you can bring your own favorite! I'll show you the reverse of this picture where you get to cozy up and relax during the show :)

 

A beautiful sunny afternoon :) 

Here is the lagoon style pool with winding slide that you all can enjoy on your trip to the Hollow! It is cooled off in the heat of the summer, and heated if it's cool outside! Remember to call out there if you have questions about prices or policies! I know I have your interest by now!

Enjoy sitting around the campfire at night and roast weenies or s'mores! Grab a guitar and have a jam session with your friends-whatever your heart desires!

 

They have built a fun tree house for kids or children at heart! 

 

We had massive Spring storms a couple days before I went out with high winds and heavy rains! Normally the pond is much cleaner but the pounding rain causes every pond/lake in OK to get a little muddy! Still absolutely beautiful! 

I know in writing it is hard to give this place the credit it deserves! I had an absolutely wonderful afternoon and can't wait to go back soon! My mind is reeling with ideas for functions and wedding ideas! Plus, I gained a great new friend from my experience and know it will continue through the years (we brainstorm and think alike on a lot of things!) 

Call and book your event at Tranquility Hollow and let me know how it goes! I'm anxious to see what kind of ideas people come up with for their events out there! Everybody sees things in different ways, and this venue gives you room to stretch your imagination and offers you so much more than just your typical "outside venue"! 

~Shelly~