Spinach & Ricotta Stuffed Ravioli An Unlikely Yet Yummy Hostess Gift

One of the many reasons we love visiting family

     We are going away for the weekend to visit my aunt and uncle and we are bringing part of Saturday night’s dinner as a gift for our hosts. I’ve spent this morning making spinach ricotta ravioli and on Saturday night all they will need to prepare are the bread and a beautiful salad.

The dough is ready to roll. Its a beautiful color and has a great texture

      I prepared the standard pasta recipe I’ve discussed in previous posts and this time I’m filling them with spinach and ricotta.

Cooking the Spinach

Pasta

3.5 cups All Pourpose flour

4 eggs

3/4 tsp salt

splash olive oil

water if needed

mix by hand  

kneed till smooth and soft

The filling is ready to use

For the filling

10 oz frozen spinach

¾ lb of part skim ricotta

¾ cup grated Parmesan

2 cloves garlic

¼ tsp black pepper

½ tsp salt

a dash of nutmeg

I sauté the spinach in butter and olive oil

with garlic and a touch of minced onion

When done I cool completely

Time to make the ravioli

Prepare the filling:

I place ricotta in a bowl

I add an egg

I add ½ cup

A touch of nutmeg

Pepper and Salt

I then add the cooled spinach

I put a small amount along the pasta

And make the pillows

I trip them with a cute little pasta cutting tool

And set them on a cookie sheet.

This pasta tool is a fun toy

I’m freezing these to take on out trip as I will not cook them till Saturday. 

To cook them I will place them in boiling salted water

When they are done they will float to the top of the water.
Total under $10.00 to feed four people

TIP OF THE DAY: Consider bringing part of the meal as a hostess gift. If you love to cook prepare a loaf of bread, a soup or even a frozen dish the hosts can enjoy during the week. Time to relax and not worry about cooking is generally a much appreciated gift.