Slow Reflections #4 - Recipes

Slow Family Living is knowing you have choices and consciously making decisions that feel right for your family.  As a mom who is home all day with my two boys I find that most days from 4-6 pm I struggle.  The boys are tired, we have been busy or have been home all day, and they don't know what they want or need.  Our anticipation of daddy arriving home puts us all in a spin.  For me, the wife, I am watching the minutes tick- knowing my teammate will be arriving any minute to help with the last few hours of our day together.  For the boys - their anticipation turns into wrestling, bouncing, whining, and indecision.

I strive daily to get us through these hours smoothly.  One of the things that has helped me survive is having a stash of family friendly meals that are either:
a.  already made and in the freezer (thank you Meal coop group)
b.  easy enough to whip together while the boys are distracted by a quick cartoon.
c.  fun and simple enough that the boys can help with.

So here is a recipe we are loving these days in our house.  It freezes wonderfully.  It is super easy.  The kids love it.  And they can help shove the string cheese in the manicotti shells!  Sorry I don't have a picture. 

Cheese Manicotti

1 package. of manicotti shells

1 lb. of ground beef or Italian sausage browned, drained

1 jar (26 oz) of spaghetti sauce

14 string cheese sticks

1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese

1/3 cup water

Pour about 3/4 cup of spaghetti sauce into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan.  

Spread to cover bottom.  

Place 1 cheese stick into each manicotti shell (uncooked) and arrange on top of spaghetti sauce.  

Sprinkle browned meat over the shells and pour the rest of the spaghetti sauce over the shells.  

Sprinkle mozzeralla cheese on top. 

Carefully pour 1/3 cup of water around the edges of the pan.  

Cover with tin foil. 

To bake:  Thaw overnight, let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking.  

Keep covered with tinfoil - bake about 1 hour at 350 degrees, uncover and bake about 15 minutes longer.

This is linked to Works for Me Wednesday!