Mancini Long Hots Recipes

MAMA MANCINI'S MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Make the sauce: Heat olive oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until translucent. Using your hands, crush tomatoes and add to saucepan, along with their juices; stir to combine. Add bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Cover, bring to a boil, and immediately reduce to a simmer.
• Make the meatballs: Place beef, cheese, breadcrumbs, parsley, onion, eggs, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Gently mix together by hand to combine. Wet hands with cold water and roll meat mixture into 1 3/4-inch balls.
• Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Working in batches if necessary, place meatballs in skillet. Cook until browned on all sides, but not cooked through. Transfer meatballs to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain.
• Transfer meatballs to sauce and gently stir from the bottom up to coat with sauce. Cover and let simmer for 30 minutes. Uncover and reduce heat. Continue cooking, stirring every 15 minutes, for 3 hours more. Serve with spaghetti, sprinkled with more cheese, if desired.

MANICOTTI WITH CHEESE FILLING AND BOLOGNESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Drop manicotti into boiling water as indicated on package. Cook 10 minutes or until the desired degree of doneness. Do not overcook. Drain.
• Stuff each manicotti with an equal portion of cheese stuffing, most easily done by using pastry bag outfitted with large round tube (No. 8). Fill them neatly without overflowing.
• Select rectangular baking dish large enough to hold stuffed manicotti neatly and compactly in one layer. Add one cup of sauce and smooth over bottom. Arrange stuffed manicotti on top. Spoon remaining sauce evenly over manicotti. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake 15 to 20 minutes.