David's Favorite Recipes

  • Breakfast
    • Breakfast Home
    • Heather’s Famous Cinnamon Rolls
    • Sunday Sour Cream Blueberry Pancakes
    • Sarah Hooker’s Family Olympics Breakfast Casserole
    • My Bermudian Mother’s Caramelized Bananas and Bacon
  • Appetizers
    • Appetizers Home
    • Ollie’s Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail With Two Sauces
    • Mike Gilbert’s Roasted Beet Hummus
    • Spring Vegetable Platter With Rolling Rock Dip
    • St. James Clam’s Casino
    • Jeanne Cook’s Hot Artichoke Dip
    • Smoked Salmon With Shallot & Dill Cream Cheese
    • Lobster Cocktail Marie Rose
    • Maine Crab Cocktail Dip
  • Soups
    • Soups Home
    • The Essential Homemade Chicken Stock
    • Dick Viall’s Chilled Melon Soup
    • Summer Gazpacho With Ripe Red Cherries
    • Homemade Tomato Basil Soup
    • Chef King’s Crab Bisque
    • New England Jumbo Shrimp Chowder
    • Hearty Lentil Soup With Cream Sherry
    • The Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Broccoli Cheddar Soup
    • Ruthie’s Maine Fish Chowder
    • Barbara Wickwire’s Chilled Pea Soup
  • Salads
    • Salads Home
    • Mediterranean Salad With Sculley House Vinaigrette
    • David’s Special Albacore Tuna Salad
    • Spinach and Bacon Salad With Soy Ginger Dressing
    • Bob Smith’s Signature Tableside Caeser Salad
    • Curried Chicken Salad With Chutney Mayonnaise
    • Jane West’s Famous Bermuda Chicken Salad
    • Howard’s Goat Cheese & Pear Salad
    • Teriyaki Strip Steak Salad
    • Jumbo Shrimp Salad With Pineapple Vinaigrette
  • Sandwiches
    • Sandwiches Home
    • Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with Asian Slaw
    • Grilled Honey Lime Chicken Fajita
    • Asian Minced Pork and Lettuce Flatbread Wrap
    • Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich “Croque Monsieur”
    • Ground Lamb Flatbread Gyro with Tzatziki Sauce
    • Lobster Cocktail Marie Rose
    • Margot’s Pulled Pork Sandwich With Two Sauces
  • Main Dishes
    • Main Dishes Home
    • Swedish Meatballs With Buttered Egg Noodles
    • Sweet Sausage Chili
    • D. Sculley’s Perfect Filet Mignon
    • Jeb’s Juicy Gourmet Meatloaf
    • Port Wine Braised Beef Pot Pie
    • Bunny’s Football Pool Jose Dinner Casserole
    • Susan’s Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb
    • Emerson’s Grilled Butterflied Lamb
    • Sylvia’s Sauteed Quail With Dates
    • Reedy Family Barbecued Spare Ribs
    • Peter Soderberg’s Grilled Brined Pork Chops
    • David’s Chicken Pot Pie
    • Honey Glazed Chicken Thighs
    • Jessica’s Famous Chicken
    • John Pelkan’s Grilled Butterflied Cornish Game Hens
    • Eric’s Chicken Enchilada Casserole
    • Heather’s Butter Poached Chicken
    • Margot’s Buttermilk and Thyme Marinated Chicken Thigh
    • Jonathan’s Middle Eastern Chicken Kabobs
    • Fiona’s Yummy Bermuda Baked Chicken
    • Classic Roast Chicken With White Wine Pan Sauce
    • Wolfgang Puck’s Chicken Marsala With Mushrooms
    • Asian Sesame Chicken Stir Fry
    • The World’s Best Cheese Souffle
    • Grilled Oregano, Lemon & Garlic Chicken Thighs
    • Sauteed Chicken Piccata
  • Seafood
    • Seafood Home
    • Sauteed Sea Scallops With White Wine Cream Sauce
    • Crispy Jumbo Shrimp Scampi
    • Rosemary Shrimp With Parmesan Risotto
    • Shrimp Linguine With Marinara Cream Sauce
    • Mike McGrath’s Cod Provencal
    • David’s Baked Fish Fillets With Buttered Bread Crumbs
    • Lemon Butter Salmon In Foil Packs With Dill Sauce
    • Nantucket Bay Scallops
  • Pizza/Pasta
    • Pizza & Pasta Home
    • Sour Cream Flatbread Pepperoni Pizza
    • David’s Famous Italian Ragu
    • Dinner Party Lasagna
    • Fettuccine Parmesan With Shallots, Pine Nuts & Sun Dried Tomatoes
    • Christa’s Ricotta Gnocchi With Parmesan Cream Sauce
    • Barbara South’s Pappardelle With Fennel, Sausage & Ricotta
    • Norman’s Signature Pesto Sauce on Open Faced Lasagna
  • Side Dishes
    • Side Dishes Home
    • Sweet Summer Corn With Leek & Shallot Butter
    • Baked Summer Tomatoes Au Gratin
    • Grilled Summer Vegetables With Balsamic Glaze
    • Honey Glazed Carrots With Parsley
    • David’s Creamed Spinach
    • David’s Wild Rice With Toasted Pecans & Cranberries
    • Brad’s Cauliflower Bake
    • Vermouth Braised Fennel With Parmesan
    • Potato & Leek Gratin
    • Elsa’s Leek & Gruyere Bread Pudding
    • Pan Seared Brussel Sprouts
    • Homemade Rice Pilaf
    • Heather’s Sauteed Green Beans With Honey Butter & Ginger
  • Bakery
    • Bakery Home
    • Parmesan Thyme Shortbread Biscuits
    • Heather’s Rosemary Focaccia Bread
    • David Genter’s Homemade Olive Bread
    • Sheila Gosling’s Bermuda Banana Bread
    • Clare’s Harvest Spice Muffins
  • Desserts
    • Desserts Home
    • Heather’s Signature Apple Crostata
    • Vienna Squares
    • Christa’s Outrageous Brownies
    • Paula’s Fabulous Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Christa’s Pavlova With Raspberry Coulis
    • Elise’s Ricotta Cheesecake
    • The Duquesne Club’s Famous Macaroons
  • Holiday
    • Holiday Home
    • Thanksgiving Friday Turkey Tetrazzini
    • Paula’s Christmas Eve Manicotti
    • Christmas Hownie Cookies
    • Christa’s Holiday Beef Tenderloin With Bearnaise Sauce
    • Theresa’s Easter Bunny Cake
Menu
  • Breakfast
    • Breakfast Home
    • Heather’s Famous Cinnamon Rolls
    • Sunday Sour Cream Blueberry Pancakes
    • Sarah Hooker’s Family Olympics Breakfast Casserole
    • My Bermudian Mother’s Caramelized Bananas and Bacon
  • Appetizers
    • Appetizers Home
    • Ollie’s Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail With Two Sauces
    • Mike Gilbert’s Roasted Beet Hummus
    • Spring Vegetable Platter With Rolling Rock Dip
    • St. James Clam’s Casino
    • Jeanne Cook’s Hot Artichoke Dip
    • Smoked Salmon With Shallot & Dill Cream Cheese
    • Lobster Cocktail Marie Rose
    • Maine Crab Cocktail Dip
  • Soups
    • Soups Home
    • The Essential Homemade Chicken Stock
    • Dick Viall’s Chilled Melon Soup
    • Summer Gazpacho With Ripe Red Cherries
    • Homemade Tomato Basil Soup
    • Chef King’s Crab Bisque
    • New England Jumbo Shrimp Chowder
    • Hearty Lentil Soup With Cream Sherry
    • The Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Broccoli Cheddar Soup
    • Ruthie’s Maine Fish Chowder
    • Barbara Wickwire’s Chilled Pea Soup
  • Salads
    • Salads Home
    • Mediterranean Salad With Sculley House Vinaigrette
    • David’s Special Albacore Tuna Salad
    • Spinach and Bacon Salad With Soy Ginger Dressing
    • Bob Smith’s Signature Tableside Caeser Salad
    • Curried Chicken Salad With Chutney Mayonnaise
    • Jane West’s Famous Bermuda Chicken Salad
    • Howard’s Goat Cheese & Pear Salad
    • Teriyaki Strip Steak Salad
    • Jumbo Shrimp Salad With Pineapple Vinaigrette
  • Sandwiches
    • Sandwiches Home
    • Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with Asian Slaw
    • Grilled Honey Lime Chicken Fajita
    • Asian Minced Pork and Lettuce Flatbread Wrap
    • Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich “Croque Monsieur”
    • Ground Lamb Flatbread Gyro with Tzatziki Sauce
    • Lobster Cocktail Marie Rose
    • Margot’s Pulled Pork Sandwich With Two Sauces
  • Main Dishes
    • Main Dishes Home
    • Swedish Meatballs With Buttered Egg Noodles
    • Sweet Sausage Chili
    • D. Sculley’s Perfect Filet Mignon
    • Jeb’s Juicy Gourmet Meatloaf
    • Port Wine Braised Beef Pot Pie
    • Bunny’s Football Pool Jose Dinner Casserole
    • Susan’s Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb
    • Emerson’s Grilled Butterflied Lamb
    • Sylvia’s Sauteed Quail With Dates
    • Reedy Family Barbecued Spare Ribs
    • Peter Soderberg’s Grilled Brined Pork Chops
    • David’s Chicken Pot Pie
    • Honey Glazed Chicken Thighs
    • Jessica’s Famous Chicken
    • John Pelkan’s Grilled Butterflied Cornish Game Hens
    • Eric’s Chicken Enchilada Casserole
    • Heather’s Butter Poached Chicken
    • Margot’s Buttermilk and Thyme Marinated Chicken Thigh
    • Jonathan’s Middle Eastern Chicken Kabobs
    • Fiona’s Yummy Bermuda Baked Chicken
    • Classic Roast Chicken With White Wine Pan Sauce
    • Wolfgang Puck’s Chicken Marsala With Mushrooms
    • Asian Sesame Chicken Stir Fry
    • The World’s Best Cheese Souffle
    • Grilled Oregano, Lemon & Garlic Chicken Thighs
    • Sauteed Chicken Piccata
  • Seafood
    • Seafood Home
    • Sauteed Sea Scallops With White Wine Cream Sauce
    • Crispy Jumbo Shrimp Scampi
    • Rosemary Shrimp With Parmesan Risotto
    • Shrimp Linguine With Marinara Cream Sauce
    • Mike McGrath’s Cod Provencal
    • David’s Baked Fish Fillets With Buttered Bread Crumbs
    • Lemon Butter Salmon In Foil Packs With Dill Sauce
    • Nantucket Bay Scallops
  • Pizza/Pasta
    • Pizza & Pasta Home
    • Sour Cream Flatbread Pepperoni Pizza
    • David’s Famous Italian Ragu
    • Dinner Party Lasagna
    • Fettuccine Parmesan With Shallots, Pine Nuts & Sun Dried Tomatoes
    • Christa’s Ricotta Gnocchi With Parmesan Cream Sauce
    • Barbara South’s Pappardelle With Fennel, Sausage & Ricotta
    • Norman’s Signature Pesto Sauce on Open Faced Lasagna
  • Side Dishes
    • Side Dishes Home
    • Sweet Summer Corn With Leek & Shallot Butter
    • Baked Summer Tomatoes Au Gratin
    • Grilled Summer Vegetables With Balsamic Glaze
    • Honey Glazed Carrots With Parsley
    • David’s Creamed Spinach
    • David’s Wild Rice With Toasted Pecans & Cranberries
    • Brad’s Cauliflower Bake
    • Vermouth Braised Fennel With Parmesan
    • Potato & Leek Gratin
    • Elsa’s Leek & Gruyere Bread Pudding
    • Pan Seared Brussel Sprouts
    • Homemade Rice Pilaf
    • Heather’s Sauteed Green Beans With Honey Butter & Ginger
  • Bakery
    • Bakery Home
    • Parmesan Thyme Shortbread Biscuits
    • Heather’s Rosemary Focaccia Bread
    • David Genter’s Homemade Olive Bread
    • Sheila Gosling’s Bermuda Banana Bread
    • Clare’s Harvest Spice Muffins
  • Desserts
    • Desserts Home
    • Heather’s Signature Apple Crostata
    • Vienna Squares
    • Christa’s Outrageous Brownies
    • Paula’s Fabulous Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Christa’s Pavlova With Raspberry Coulis
    • Elise’s Ricotta Cheesecake
    • The Duquesne Club’s Famous Macaroons
  • Holiday
    • Holiday Home
    • Thanksgiving Friday Turkey Tetrazzini
    • Paula’s Christmas Eve Manicotti
    • Christmas Hownie Cookies
    • Christa’s Holiday Beef Tenderloin With Bearnaise Sauce
    • Theresa’s Easter Bunny Cake

Paula’s Christmas Eve Manicotti

SERVES 6 TO 8

Directions - Manicotti "Pancakes"

In a blender, combine the flour, eggs, water, and salt. Blend until smooth and let sit for 10 minutes.

In the bottom of a 10-to-12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, pour in enough batter to form 1 thin pancake. Cook until its underside is golden and the top changes color from milky to light yellow, about 1 minute. Do not flip, but cut in half and remove with a spatula to a large plate. Repeat with the remaining batter. You should have 18 to 24 manicotti “pancakes.”

Directions - Marinara Sauce

Pour the tomatoes into a large bowl and crush with your hands. Pour 1 cup water into the can and slosh it around to get tomato juices; reserve.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and, as soon as the garlic is sizzling but before it starts to brown, add the tomatoes and then the reserved water, salt, and oregano. Simmer the sauce until thickened and the oil on its surface is a deep orange color, about 15 minutes. Add more salt and oregano to taste and set aside.

Directions - Filling

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

In a large bowl, combine all the filling ingredients. (Cooked chicken or hamburger can be mixed into the filling, if desired.) Spoon some of the filling into each pancake, roll it up, and place seam down in a greased baking pan. Repeat with the remaining filling and pancakes, placing them side by side in the pan in a single layer.

Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for about 20 minutes. Remove the foil, spoon on the Marinara Sauce,  and bake uncovered for about 15 minutes longer. Serve 2 or 3 manicotti, per person, topped with Parmesan and chopped fresh basil.

It was a holiday tradition in my family for many years for my late wife Paula to make her wonderful homemade manicotti on Christmas Eve. She could prepare it earlier in the day and just heat it up in the oven for dinner as we got into the full Christmas swing. Paula did not use pasta, instead making her own manicotti “pancakes” resembling delicate filled crepes. Then she topped it with the award-winning marinara sauce recipe from the New York Times. Absolutely delicious!

Ingredients - Manicotti "Pancakes"

3 large eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup water
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Ingredients - Marinara Sauce

1 (28-ounce) can whole San Marzano tomatoes
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
7 garlic cloves, peeled and slivered
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon dried oregano

Ingredients - Filling

½ pound ricotta cheese
½ pound mozzarella, cut into small cubes
1 large egg
1 (10-ounce) package chopped frozen spinach
1 cup seasoned panko breadcrumbs
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
¼ cup chopped fresh basil, for topping