Manicotti Cum Laude

Fauve's Note:

My college-student son always asks for this meal whenever he is home. Top grades always go to this effort in the kitchen!

• Total Time: 1 hrs 5 mins
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 1 (8 ounce) package manicotti , uncooked
• 1 lb bulk Italian sausage
• ½ cup chopped onion
• 2 cloves garlic , minced
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 1 (16 ounce) container ricotta cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
• 1 cup shredded provolone cheese
• 1⁄3; cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 egg

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350*.
2. In a large skillet, over medium heat, brown sausage, drain fat.
3. Add onion and garlic, cooking till onion is slightly transparent.
4. Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, sugar, salt and pepper.
5. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes.
6. In a medium bowl, comine cheeses and egg.
7. Mix well.
8. Store, covered, in refrigerator while manicotti noodles are cooking.
9. Cook manicotti as directed on package; drain.
10. Stuff manicotti shells with cheese mixture.
11. Spread half of the tomato based sauce on bottom of a greased 13 x 9" baking dish.
12. Place stuffed manicotti over sauce.
13. Spoon remaining sauce over manicotti.
14. Cover& bake 35 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
15. Remove from oven, top with remaining 1 cup mozarella cheese.
16. Bake 5 minutes longer.

Reviews

[celly]

This was a hit! I had never made manicotti before, but we loved it. Kept the recipe as is and made enough to freeze a batch (we are only 2)!! Thanks!

[Gwen35]

My family thoroughly enjoyed this dish, however I thought it could use a bit more of something. Next time, I am going to try adding a bit of celery, mushrooms and maybe sweet peppers to the sauce (and make more of it), and maybe put some finely chopped mushrooms and spinach in the cheese mixture. (The cheese combination, by the way, is outstanding as is.) Next time I will also use hot Italian sausage rather than the mild ones. The dish is relatively simple to prepare - it's one of those that can be prepared in stages if need be. Thank you for sharing - it was put in my cookbook before it was even made.

[Kerriedoll]

This is excellent. I didn't change a thing. Even better the next day for leftovers after the flavors have all settled in. Thanks much!