Recipe Box

Cheese Manicotti with Meat Sauce

1 lb. ground beef
1 tbsp. veg. oil
1 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onions
1 large garlic, minced
18-24 oz. tomato paste (to your liking)
2 cups water
1 3/4 tsp. salt
pepper to taste
4 tbsp. chopped parsley
4 tsp. dried basil
3/4 lb. ricotta cheese
1/3 cup grated parmesan
1 egg beaten
8 ounces manicotti shells
parmesan cheese, grated

1. Brown beef, drain.
2. Add vegetable and olive oils to beef, then add onion, garlic, tomato pate, water, 1 1/2 tsp salt, pepper to taste, 2 tbsp parsley, and basil. Simmer for 45 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally.
3. In a bowl, combine ricotta, 1/3 cup parmesan, and egg; add remaining 2 tbsp parsley, 1/4 tsp salt, and pepper to taste.
4. Cook manicotti in boiling salted water until tender, drain; rinse in cold water.
5. Using a pastry bag, or something similar, fill manicotti with cheese mixture or cut lengthwise with scissors, open, fill, and reform.
6. Pour one half of the tomato-meat sauce into baking dish. Arrange stuffed manicotti in a layer, overlapping slightly. Top with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with parmesan.
7. Bake in preheated 350 oven for about 30 minutes.

This really is delicious!