Makin’ Manicotti

Last week when I went grocery shopping, I actually went with a plan in mind.  The list I brought only contained items that I needed for the meals I was planning on preparing.  What a unique concept!  I know this should come as no surprise, but it was really nice to cook with a menu already laid out.  Now I just need to keep myself motivated and plan out my next set of meals.  Cooking, I don’t mind.  It’s figuring out what I want to prepare that I really loathe.

Tonight’s main course was manicotti.  I’ve never prepared it before, but Betty Crocker made it sound easy enough for me to figure out.  While the boys were napping, I put together the sauce and filling.  Then, when the sleeping mini-men awoke, I put them to work.  Actually, asking them to stand on the booster chairs and help me cook doesn’t take much arm twisting.  I armed them with spoons and had them help me fill the manicotti shells.  Nolan stayed on task pretty well.  Lincoln lost interest quite quickly once he realized how tasty the filling was – I didn’t really try to stop him.  I figure if he wanted to enjoy the spinach & cottage cheese mix, that was fine with me.  The meal was a success – both boys cleared their plates and we now have leftovers.  I love leftovers.