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Simple ideas for living healthier on a budget.

Recipe Makeover

Every month, we’ll take a member’s recipe and give it a Start Making Choices™ makeover—shaping it up to suit a more balanced lifestyle.

Not-So-Naughty Manicotti

This rich pasta dish has always been a satisfying standby. Now, with a low-fat makeover, we've cut the calories—and the guilt—and loaded up on nutrients. Ciao down!

Three-Cheese Manicotti with Chunky Vegetable Sauce

Nutritional Information:

of daily
grains

of daily
vegetables

of daily
fruit

of daily
milk

of daily
meat/beans

Calories: 303	Total Fat: 5 g
Saturated Fat: 2 g	Sodium: 711 mg
Cholesterol: 7 mg	Dietary Fiber: 6 g
Carbs: 42 g	Protein: 22 g
Sugars: 12 g	Vitamin C 56%
Vitamin A 138%	Iron 14%
Calcium 38%

Hands On: 30 minutes

Total: 1 hour 25 minutes

Makes: 7 servings (2 manicotti each)

Ingredients:

Sauce
PAM® Olive Oil no-stick cooking spray
1 cup diced green bell pepper
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 cup shredded carrot
1 cup shredded zucchini
3 cans (8 oz each) Hunt's® Tomato Sauc—No Salt Added
1 can (14.5 oz) Hunt's® Petite Diced Tomatoes, undrained
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning

Manicotti
1 package (8 oz) dry manicotti shells, uncooked
1 package (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 container (16 oz) fat-free small-curd cottage cheese (16 oz = 2 cups)
1-1/4 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
4 oz fat-free cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup Egg Beaters® 100% liquid egg whites
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Prepare sauce: Spray large skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. Add green pepper; cook 3 minutes or until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute or until fragrant. Add carrot and zucchini; cook 2 minutes more. Add tomato sauce, undrained tomatoes, vinegar, and Italian seasoning. Simmer mixture 10 minutes, stirring occasionally; set aside.

2. Meanwhile, prepare manicotti: Preheat oven to 375º F. Prepare manicotti shells according to package directions, omitting salt. When just tender, drain and rinse with cold water. Place shells in single layer on parchment paper; set aside.

3. Lightly spray 13- x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 2 cups of the sauce in baking dish; set aside. Combine spinach, cottage cheese, 3/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese, cream cheese, Egg Beaters, garlic powder, and black pepper in large bowl. Fill each manicotti shell with 1/4 cup of the cheese mixture. Arrange over sauce in baking dish; top with the remaining sauce. Cover with aluminum foil.

4. Bake 45 minutes or until filling is hot. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. Bake, uncovered, 5 to 10 minutes more or until mozzarella cheese melts.

Original Three-Cheese Manicotti

Nutritional Information:

of daily
grains

of daily
vegetables

of daily
fruit

of daily
milk

of daily
meat/beans

Calories: 550	Total Fat: 28 g
Saturated Fat: 15 g	Sodium: 1,362 mg
Cholesterol: 140 mg	Dietary Fiber: 6 g
Carbs: 47 g	Protein: 29 g
Sugars: 20 g	Vitamin C 6%
Vitamin A 32%	Iron 15%
Calcium 56%

Hands On: 20 minutes

Total: 1 hour

Makes: 7 servings (2 manicotti each)

Ingredients:

1 package (8 oz) dry manicotti shells, uncooked
3 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
4 oz cream cheese, softened
2 eggs, beaten
2 jars (26 oz each) traditional spaghetti sauce

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Cook manicotti according to package directions; drain.

2. Meanwhile, combine 1-1/2 cups of the mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, cream cheese, and eggs. Stuff the cooked manicotti with cheese mixture.

3. Spread 2 cups of the pasta sauce onto the bottom of a 9- x 13-inch baking dish. Place stuffed manicotti in dish and top with remaining sauce and cheese.

4. Cover with foil and bake 40 minutes or until filling is hot.

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Previous Recipe Makeovers

> Not-So-Naughty Manicotti

> Baked Donuts

> Popcorn Trail Mix

How We Do It!

In our test kitchens, we enhance, with care, the treasured family recipes shared by other Start Making Choices members just like you. Our general guidelines include reducing fat, cholesterol, and calories while preserving the taste and texture of the original. Where possible, we add nutritional value with health-giving vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fiber. Lastly, we simplify recipe preparation to better serve today’s busy households.

Recipes featured here may not meet all of the Balanced Life™ Plan nutritional guidelines and are not part of your Balanced Life Plan. Please enjoy in moderation.