New England Cheddar and Crab Manicotti

recipe adapted from Cabot Creamery.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup cottage cheese
• 2  cups  shredded cheddar cheese
• 6  ounces  crabmeat, flaked, fresh
• 2  tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
• 1  tablespoon onion, minced
• 1  teaspoon dried basil
• 2 1⁄2 cups tomato sauce
• 12  manicotti, cooked until almost tender (al dente)
•  salt & pepper

Directions

1. In large bowl, combine cottage cheese, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, crabmeat, parsley, onion, and basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
2. Pour 2 cups tomato sauce into shallow baking dish. Stuff shells with equal amounts of cheese mixture and place on top of sauce. Spoon remaining sauce over shells, cover with foil, and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese. Return to oven and bake 5 minutes more.
3. Variation: For a Florentine version, substitute 1 package cooked frozen chopped spinach in place of crabmeat.