Mom's Cannelloni

Warm, hearty, and filling. Don't be daunted by the long list of ingredients or the part about making the crepes. I was a little the first time I made it but it was sooo easy! It now takes me (almost) no time to whip this up. And if I don't have the time to make the crepes sometimes I make a "Mom's Cannelloni Casserole" (recipe to follow).

MOM'S CANNELLONI

My mother-in-law makes this amazing cannelloni, which is my husband's FAVORITE meal. Last time he deployed this is what he requested as his homecoming meal. My mother-in-law got this recipe from a friend and has been making it since 1977. The "noodles" are actually crepes! (Don't run out to the store and buy a fancy crepe pan, any small non-stick pan will do!)


CREPE BATTER:

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp. salt

3 eggs

1 2/3 cups milk

1 tbsp. oil

FILLING:

1 lb. ground beef (I make it with ground turkey breast)

1 tbsp butter

1 clove garlic, crushed

1, 10 oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed (I make it with chopped, cooked fresh spinach)

3 Oz liver pate (sometimes this is hard to find, recently I've been using cream cheese instead, which obviously tastes nothing like liver pate but it has a similar consistency and binds everything together)

1/2 C parmesan cheese

2 eggs, beaten

nutmeg, oregano, salt and pepper to taste

CREAM SAUCE:

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup flour

3 cups chicken stock

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup white wine (optional)

1/4 c. grated Swiss cheese

dash nutmeg

salt and pepper to taste

8oz tomato sauce (I've been using tinned crushed San Marzano tomatoes, I like the fresh and less salty taste)

grated parmesan cheese

Prepare crepes by blending all ingredients in bowl: Pour scant 1/4 cup of batter into crepe pan-turn out onto clean dish towel to cool. Makes 12 crepes

Brown ground beef or turkey. Drain if necessary. Add remaining filling ingredients. Place scant 1/4 cup in each crepe. Roll and place in lightly greased baking dishes (13 x 9).

Cream sauce: Prepare as basic bechamel sauce, adding wine and cheese last. Pour over crepes to cover well---this makes a lot of sauce and you may not need it all.

Top with a wide ribbon of tomato sauce and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Bake 350 or 25-30 minutes until bubbly.

MOM'S CANNELLONI CASSEROLE

Sometimes I crave the cannelloni but don't have time to make the crepes. I just boil up a package of Rotini or Penne pasta. Combine it with the ground beef or turkey "filling." Pour into a buttered baking dish and top with bechamel sauce, the ribbon of tomato sauce, parmesan and bake!

Posted on: www.asimmeringpotandamom.blogspot.com