Spinach Manicotti

8 dried manicotti shells
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp flour
1 1/3 cup milk
3 oz. Swiss cheese
1/3 cup chicken broth
1 beaten egg
1 x 10 oz package frozen spinach, thawed
3/4 cup ricotta
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 Tsp lemon peel

Cook manicotti according to directions on box. Cool in a single layer on a piece of greased foil.

Meanwhile for sauce, cook green onions and garlic in butter until tender. Stir in flour. Add milk all at once. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Add Swiss cheese and broth, stirring until cheese melts.

For filling, in a medium bowl stir together egg, spinach, ricotta and Parmesan cheese and lemon peel. Use a small spoon to fill shells. Arrange in a baking dish. Pour sauce over. Bake, covered, in a 350F oven 30-35 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Banana Bread

3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup)
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

No need for a mixer for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 175°C. With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour last, mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 40 minutes. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

Recipe and photo from Simply Recipes