Farmhouse Manicotti With Optional Meat Sauce

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• 12 large manicotti, cooked, rinsed, drained
• 1 lb ground beef (or venison combination)
• 1 quart spaghetti sauce, divided
• 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 2 cups ricotta cheese (see note below)
• 2 tablespoons dried basil (see other note below)
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Recipe

• 1 cook, rinse & drain manicotti as per package directions.
• 2 while that is cooking, brown the meat in a medium frying pan; rinse & drain for low-fat applications!
• 3 preheat oven to 350; grease 13x9 pan; set aside.
• 4 mix meat and spaghetti sauce; spoon 3 cups of sauce into bottom of greased pan; set aside.
• 5 in a medium bowl, combine three cups mozzarella with ricotta and basil.
• 6 spoon mixture into a ziplock bag, cut off one corner, squeeze into pasta shells; lay finished shells into sauce in pan.
• 7 after all shells have been filled and nestled cutely together, pour remaining sauce over shells.
• 8 sprinkle with remaining mozzarella.
• 9 bake for 15 minutes; sprinkle with parmesan; bake for 10 more minutes.
• 10 serve immediately. yum!