Clean out your fridge manicotti

I love vacations but the return home can be a real downer. Especially if you are like me and concentrate on packing and getting ready and not what is in your fridge. I have been making it a top priority on my vacation prep to do list to eat all the goodies before they turn nasty and taunt me when I return.

Last night I opened my fridge and grabbed an armful of items that need to be eaten before we leave. Some ground turkey, carrots, mozzarella, some eggs and a small bit of cream cheese. A quick look through the pantry and I had a plan, manicotti.

Manicotti
1lb ground turkey
3 carrots, minced
1 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
Italian seasonings* to taste
s/p to taste

2 eggs beaten
1/3 block cream cheese, softened
1 jar sauce of choice
manicotti shells, cooked per instructions

Brown your turkey, set aside
Saute carrots, onion and garlic (I think zucchini or spinach would work as well)
Combine half jar sauce with turkey, onions, and other veggies.
Stuff your precooked shells and place in casserole dish
Drop blobs of cream cheese onto shells
Pour beaten eggs over shells
Back for 30 min
top with cheeses of choice and set back in to brown.

Whew was that good. I had enough of the mixture to stuff 2 boxes of shells so I reserved half and froze it. I love make ahead meals. Even if they are only part way. I used cream cheese but you don't have to. I'm sure whatever cheese you have would work. Manicotti is very forgiving.

*The Italian Herbs that I use is the McCormick Italian Herb Seasoning GRINDER. I am not big on buying blends** but I really do like this one. I am not sure I will buy another one when this one is gone because I can do the same in my spice grinder. It is good though.

**Please note that I do buy Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning like it is going out of style. I will use that in just about any recipe that I can. I even used it in the manicotti :)