Manicotti

Cover all the food groups with this rich, delicious meal! Great for a large group. And... it's pasta, so what are you waiting for!

Servings: 16 (cut in half if you need to)

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

Sauce:

1 lb ground

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 yellow onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp dried basil

-1 jar of your favorite store bought sauce

-1 can stewed diced tomatoes (or homemade jar stewed tomatoes)

-1 cup red wine

Noodles:

2 boxes manicotti noodles (typically 8 per box)

Filling:

2 cups shredded mozzarella

3 cups ricotta cheese

2/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups frozen spinach, thawed (or use fresh, finely chopped)

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Nonstick spray

Instructions

Sauce:

-In a sauce pan on medium heat add olive oil, ground and seasonings,stir until ground is mostly cooked

-Add onion

-Stir occasionally until onion is soft

-Add garlic, blend

-Add sauce, tomatoes and wine

-Reduce to low heat, cover, simmer for one hour (30 minutes is fine but the longer the better)

Pasta

-Cook pasta according to directions for al dente

-Rinse with cold water, set aside

Filling

-Combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl

-Fill pasta shells with cheese mixture until stuffed

Finish it up

-Spray large, rectangular baking dish with nonstick spray

-Place stuffed manicotti into the dish (if you have some splits, it's OK put them on the bottom

-Cover manicotti with your sauce mixture, sprinkle with any remaining mozzarella

-Bake at 350 for 30 minutes

Pairs well with salad and garlic bread