Vegetarian Manicotti

Difficulty: easy Prep Time: More than 15 Minutes Total Time: More than 1 hour
3 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed
1/2 bulb fennel, cubed
1/2 cup pearl onions
1 tbsp garlic, minced
1/2 tsp celery seed
1/4 tsp chili flakes
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup flour
2/3 cup ricotta cheese
2 eggs
Salt & pepper to taste
24 pieces of manicotti, cooked according to pkg directions
1 jar your favourite pasta sauce

Preheat oven to 350°F and toss the first 7 ingredients in a bowl. Spread mixture on a parchment-lined pan and bake until the vegetables are lightly browned and soft when pierced with a knife (about 40 minutes). Cool for about 10 minutes. Transfer cooked mixture to the bowl of a food processor and blend well. Add flour and cheese and blend again. With the mixer running, add the eggs. Season to taste. Place mixture in a piping bag fitted with a round tip and pipe into manicotti shells. Place in a lightly greased casserole dish and bake for about 20 minutes (or until the filling is set and the noodles are completely cooked). Serve with your favourite pasta sauce. (We used a white wine cream sauce.)