Manicotti or macaroni muffs make a flavorful one dish meal of Italian origin, they are egg noodle rolls filled with a spinach, ground beef mixture and topped with cheese and spaghetti sauce. The filling is seasoned with onion, garlic and Parmesan cheese and salt. Egg noodle dough cut in 3 to 4 inch squares is precooked in salted water with a few drops of olive oil before filled with meat mixture.

FILLING:

1 lb. ground beef
1 lg. onion
1 clove garlic
1 c. spinach (cooked & drained)
4 egg yolks
1 c. cheese
4 tbsp. butter for sauteing
1 lb. mozzarella cheese for topping
1 lb. ground beef cooked in spaghetti sauce

NOODLE DOUGH:

2 c. flour
2 eggs
1 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tbsp. water or more if needed

Make a well in a mound of flour. Place slightly beaten eggs, olive oil and water in well. Mix flour in slowly. Knead until smooth and elastic. Divide dough. Cover with a bowl 5 minutes. Roll out each piece thin and cut into 3-4 inch squares and roll again. Squares are boiled for 3 minutes in shallow water then remove and drained on a towel. Fill squares with meat mixture and roll up and place on a baking sheet. On each roll place a strip of mozzarella cheese (slightly larger than the roll). Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove from oven, spread with meat sauce and bake 5 minutes longer.