Beef Cannelloni

Ingredients:

• 12 cannelloni shells
• 3 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic — minced
• 10 ounces package frozen chopped spinach — thawed and well drained (optional)
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 2 eggs slightly beaten
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 1 cup of mozzarella cheese
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook the cannelloni according to the package instructions. In a large skillet cook the ground beef, with the onion and garlic, until beef is browned. Make sure the beef is very well crumbled and if there’s any excess juice, drain it well. If you are adding the spinach, add it now and saute for another 3 minutes, mixing well. Add the eggs, milk and Parmesan cheese to this mixture and stir well.
2. In a lightly greased 13×9 baking dish, spread one cup of the tomato mixture. Stuff the cannelloni shells with the meat mixture and place them on the tomato mixture in the baking dish.
3. Preheat oven to 375 F degrees.
4. In a sauce pan melt the butter and add the flour and stir well until smooth, about a minute. Start adding the half and half constantly stirring, the mixture should thicken up. Add the salt and pepper if required and pour this mixture over the cannelloni, then spoon in the remaining tomato cause. Sprinkle the mozzarella over the sauce and add some oregano if preferred.
5. Bake for about 20 minutes until golden brown.