Cannelloni

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For many native Italians, Cannelloni may be more similar to a crepe filled with a savory filling and covered with tomato sauce.

[edit] Description

Cannelloni, or manicotti, are large crepes, generally 3 to 4 inches in length and rolled one inch in diameter. After boiling, they are typically filled with a savory stuffing of ricotta cheese or meat, then covered with tomato sauce. However, there are many variations on the basic recipe.

In Italian, cannelloni literally means "big pipes" or "big reeds", while manicotti means "muffs", from the diminutive of manica ("sleeve"). Although both terms are plural nouns in Italian, the English term is often construed as singular, particularly when used as the name of the dish.

The term manicotti is more common in the United States, but they can be used interchangeably. However, an article in Better Homes and Gardens magazine distinguishes them, using manicotti for noodles rolled diagonally and cannelloni for noodles rolled rectilinearly. [1]

The American composer Peter Schickele has called for an uncooked manicotti tube, which he calls "tuba mirum," to be used as a musical instrument (played in the manner of a horn) in works by the fictional composer P. D. Q. Bach.